The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:1129] From: Reverend William Gordon (of Urquhart ) / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Reverend Thomas Macfarlane (of Lonbride (Lanbride, Lhanbryd)) (Patient) / March? 1776? / (Incoming)
Letter, or rather a case probably sent as an enclosure, entitled 'Information respecting the case of Mr Thomas Macfarlane Min[iste]r of Lonbride', unsigned but writer identified by handwriting as William Gordon. The patient suffered from headaches and lack of sleep for several days, before telling his wife that 'he found his head quite out of order and was about to lose the use of his reason.' Cullen has added his response as a brief numbered list of directions. Date is a loose inference based upon a follow-up letter from Gordon.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 4 images for this document.
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Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 1129 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/230 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Incoming |
| Date | March? 1776? |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Authorial original |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | Yes |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Letter, or rather a case probably sent as an enclosure, entitled 'Information respecting the case of Mr Thomas Macfarlane Min[iste]r of Lonbride', unsigned but writer identified by handwriting as William Gordon. The patient suffered from headaches and lack of sleep for several days, before telling his wife that 'he found his head quite out of order and was about to lose the use of his reason.' Cullen has added his response as a brief numbered list of directions. Date is a loose inference based upon a follow-up letter from Gordon. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:738] |
Case of Mr [Thomas] Macfarlane [Minister of Lonbride] who is mentally disordered and eventually has to be restrained with a 'waistcoat'. |
6 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:593] | Author | Reverend William Gordon (of Urquhart ) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Addressee | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:594] | Patient | Reverend Thomas Macfarlane (of Lonbride (Lanbride, Lhanbryd)) |
| [PERS ID:2285] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | |
| [PERS ID:2286] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr James? Walker |
| [PERS ID:2287] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr Milne |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:4021] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Mrs Ann Macfarlane |
| [PERS ID:1] | Supplemental Author | 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 | Urquhart | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | inferred | |
| Destination of Letter | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | inferred | |
| Mentioned / Other | Cullen's House / Mint Close | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
Information to respecting the case of Mr Thomas
Macfarlane Minister of Lonbride ----------
He is about thirty years of age - to all appearance
healthy sound & vigorous as to his habit of body - of a
cheerfull disposition & seemed as much as any man to be
possessed of the mens sana in corpore sano 1 till this disorder
came on in the End of Aprile last --- He had indeed in his youth
/14 or 15 years ago/ a nervous fever which brought him low & he
was at that time blistered on different parts of the body ---
After that he had a constant tract of health till Aprile last
when there happened an Eruption of a few pimples on his face
--- this gave him no great uneasiness; but some of his Relations
recollect that riding one Evening with a cold wind in his face, the
Eruption was driven in & after this he complained of a headach ---
About this time he was obliged to ride to the provincial Synod
when the weather was very cold & rainy & being obliged to sitt up
late at night, the Complaint of the headach encreased & his sleep
went from him --- he had been several days bad this way when
in a forenoon he came into his house & told his wofe, he found his
head quite out of order & was about to lose the use of his reason,
that however he would do any thing he was advised --- Immediately
a Surgeon on the neighbouring town was called, who found him in
bed calm & submissive --- he answered some questions very dis¬
tinctly, others not so readily --- he was generally silent --- his pulse
was pretty frequent & a little hard, tho' not full -- his face red ---
[Page 2]
A vein was opened & a small quantity of Blood taken away - but
as the pulse seemed rather to fail than rise, the vein was stopt
after 5 or 6 ounces of Blood were drawn --- Common Emulsions
which Nitre were used - a blister applied on the nap of the neck ---
By Dr Walker's advice Camphorated Emulsion was used & small
doses Sal Succini were frequently given --- Dr Milne ordered some
doses of Camphor. Musk & Castor mixed to be given - also a vomit was
administrated ---yet the troublesome Symptom of watchfullness was
not removed & his intellectual faculty much obscured & memory
impaired ---- In the beginning of May he wanted sleep two weeks
or more - his pulse was so low as scarce to be felt -- about this time
he had some severe Cramps in his legs & hands -- his Eyes stood &
he looked like one dying - his Respiration being generally very
slow - often not perceptible for a considerable time -- after this
he came gradually to take some food & get a little sleep - but still
the Symptom of watchfullness & failure of his memory seem to be
the most threatning ailments in his case --- He is some days better
seems more lively & his memory good - & some days he is worse -
- dull & low spirited ------------------------------------------
[Page 3]
1. Continue exercise even in bad weather
2. Cold Bathing or rather washing brought on by
degrees
3. Diet ex media materie 2 with a little wine or punch
4. Electuary of Bark and Steel
5. Andersons pills. ------------
[Page 4]
✍
Thomas Mcfarlane
Minister of Lonbride
February with its
answer by the D.r himself
Sir
Ser
Diplomatic Text
Information to respecting the case of Mr Thomas
Macfarlane Minr of Lonbride ----------
He is about thirty years of age - to all appearance
healthy sound & vigorous as to his habit of body - of a
cheerfull disposition & seemed as much as any man to be
possessed of the mens sana in corpore sano 1 till this disorder
came on in the End of Aprile last --- He had indeed in his youth
/14 or 15 years ago/ a nervous fever which brought him low & he
was at that time blistered on different parts of the body ---
After that he had a constant tract of health till Aprile last
when there happened an Eruption of a few pimples on his face
--- this gave him no great uneasiness; but some of his Relations
recollect that riding one Evening wt a cold wind in his face, the
Eruption was driven in & after this he complained of a headach ---
About this time he was obliged to ride to the provincial Synod
when the weather was very cold & rainy & being obliged to sitt up
late at night, the Complaint of the headach encreased & his sleep
went from him --- he had been several days bad this way when
in a forenoon he came into his house & told his wofe, he found his
head quite out of order & was about to lose the use of his reason,
that however he would do any thing he was advised --- Immediately
a Surgeon on the neighbouring town was called, who found him in
bed calm & submissive --- he answered some questions very dis¬
tinctly, others not so readily --- he was generally silent --- his pulse
was pretty frequent & a little hard, tho' not full -- his face red ---
[Page 2]
A vein was opened & a small quantity of Blood taken away - but
as the pulse seemed rather to fail than rise, the vein was stopt
after 5 or 6 ounces of Blood were drawn --- Common Emulsions
wc Nitre were used - a blister applied on the nap of the neck ---
By Dr Walker's advice Camphorated Emulsion was used & small
doses Sal Succini were frequently given --- Dr Milne ordered some
doses of Camphor. Musk & Castor mixed to be given - also a vomit was
administrated ---yet the troublesome Symptom of watchfullness was
not removed & his intellectual faculty much obscured & memory
impaired ---- In the beginning of May he wanted sleep two weeks
or more - his pulse was so low as scarce to be felt -- about this time
he had some severe Cramps in his legs & hands -- his Eyes stood &
he looked like one dying - his Respiration being generally very
slow - often not perceptible for a considerable time -- after this
he came gradually to take some food & get a little sleep - but still
the Symptom of watchfullness & failure of his memory seem to be
the most threatning ailments in his case --- He is some days better
seems more lively & his memory good - & some days he is worse -
- dull & low spirited ------------------------------------------
[Page 3]
1. Continue exercise even in bad weather
2. Cold Bathing or rather washing brought on by
degrees
3. Diet ex media materie 2 with a little wine or punch
4. Electuary of Bark and Steel
5. Andersons pills. ------------
[Page 4]
✍
Thos Mcfarlane
Miner of Lonbride
Febry with its
answer by the D.r himself
Sir
Ser
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