The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:1118] From: Dr Alexander Stevenson (Professor; of Dalgairn ) / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Sir James Maxwell (Patient) / 2 February 1775 / (Incoming)
Letter from Alexander Stevenson regarding the case of Sir James Maxwell. Stevenson explains that 'I write you without the consent of my patient & without his knowledge but he deserves all that we can do for him'. Maxwell has started suffering 'epileptic' fits at night, but resists any attempts at medical intervention.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 4 images for this document.
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[Page 2]
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[Page 4]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 1118 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/219 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Incoming |
| Date | 2 February 1775 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Authorial original |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Letter from Alexander Stevenson regarding the case of Sir James Maxwell. Stevenson explains that 'I write you without the consent of my patient & without his knowledge but he deserves all that we can do for him'. Maxwell has started suffering 'epileptic' fits at night, but resists any attempts at medical intervention. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | Yes |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:631] |
Case of Sir James Maxwell who has started having convulsive fits at night but who rejects all attempts at medical intervention. |
1 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:563] | Author | Dr Alexander Stevenson (Professor; of Dalgairn ) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Addressee | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:2282] | Patient | Sir James Maxwell |
| [PERS ID:563] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr Alexander Stevenson (Professor; of Dalgairn ) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
Places linked to this document
| Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Writing | Glasgow | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Destination of Letter | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Place of Handstamp | Glasgow | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
I write you without the consent
of my patient & without his knowledge
but he desrves all that we can do for
him & therefore I beg your Advice &
asistance -
You know Sir James Maxwells Constitu¬
tion & way of Life -- I need only put you in
mind that when you saw him last He
had the Sciatica - of which he recover'd
after using Dovers Sweat & a few other
medecines.
In summer last, his Eyes were always
a little inflamed, but not so as to make
him keep the House or live more mode¬
rately. In Time, after some Days
of Riot, He was seiz'd with an Epileptic
fit. Upon questioning his friends I learned
that once or twice, they had observed him
in the street & at home, to make a pause
[Page 2]
& look odd, as not knowing what he did.
These have attack'd him much oftener
since that time: but in the worst of them
he plays his Cards - or talks, after it goes
off, as if nothing had happened.
About two months after, He had another fit
tho' He had liv'd more cautiously. In less than
two months another - then one in three
weeks - He had one on Saturday se'nnight,
& another last saturday -. I suspect He has
had others, tho' they escap'd observation.
He has never had a fit but in the Night,
when in Bed - They last some minutes -
In some He has bit his tongue & Cheeks &
pass'd the Urine - His Pulse is in general
moderate every way, & the Blood when let
had nothing particular.
Nothing cou'd equal his obstinacy in
resisting the Advice & Regulations proposed
nor wou'd He hear of a Consultation.
[Page 3]
He has now & then submitted to lose blood
of the Arm & to take a dose of Physic
& to use a habitual Laxative - & a few weeks
ago allowed a Pea to be placed in his Arm.
He has now consented to lose his Hair that
Leeches or Blisters may be applied & is
more sensible of the Horror of his situation.
He has agreed to want suppers or to take little
& early - but every Regulation you propose
must be strongly enforced.
It wou'd serve no purpose to be more minute
I therefore conclude & beg to hear from you
soon - referring you to Mr Shaw Stuart
for your fee -- I am always
Dear Dr,
Your most Obedient Servant
[Page 4]
To
Doctor William Cullen
Professor of Physic
Edinburgh
✍
Dr Stevenson
about Sir. J. Maxwell
February 2. 1775.
Diplomatic Text
I write you without the consent
of my patient & without his knowledge
but he desrves all that we can do for
him & therefore I beg your Advice &
asistance -
You know Sir James Maxwells Constitu¬
tion & way of Life -- I need only put you in
mind that when you saw him last He
had the Sciatica - of which he recover'd
after using Dovers Sweat & a few other
medecines.
In summer last, his Eyes were always
a little inflamed, but not so as to make
him keep the House or live more mode¬
rately. In Time, after some Days
of Riot, He was seiz'd with an Epileptic
fit. Upon questioning his friends I learned
that once or twice, they had observed him
in the street & at home, to make a pause
[Page 2]
& look odd, as not knowing what he did.
These have attack'd him much oftener
since that time: but in the worst of them
he plays his Cards - or talks, after it goes
off, as if nothing had happened.
About two months after, He had another fit
tho' He had liv'd more cautiously. In less than
two months another - then one in three
weeks - He had one on Saturday se'nnight,
& another last saturday -. I suspect He has
had others, tho' they escap'd observation.
He has never had a fit but in the Night,
when in Bed - They last some minutes -
In some He has bit his tongue & Cheeks &
pass'd the Urine - His Pulse is in general
moderate every way, & the Blood when let
had nothing particular.
Nothing cou'd equal his obstinacy in
resisting the Advice & Regulations proposed
nor wou'd He hear of a Consultation.
[Page 3]
He has now & then submitted to lose blood
of the Arm & to take a dose of Physic
& to use a habitual Laxative - & a few weeks
ago allowed a Pea to be placed in his Arm.
He has now consented to lose his Hair that
Leeches or Blisters may be applied & is
more sensible of the Horror of his situation.
He has agreed to want suppers or to take little
& early - but every Regulation you propose
must be strongly enforced.
It wou'd serve no purpose to be more minute
I therefore conclude & beg to hear from you
soon - referring you to Mr Shaw Stuart
for your fee -- I am always
Dr Dr,
Your most Obedt Servt
[Page 4]
To
Doctor William Cullen
Professor of Physic
Edinburgh
✍
Dr Stevenson
abt Sir. J. Maxwell
Febry 2. 1775.
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