The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:1156] From: Mr Andrew Liddell (Liddle) / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Mr Robert Sutherland Dunbar ('Mr Bob') (Patient), Mrs Gibson (Gibsone) (Patient) / 13 July 1775 / (Incoming)
Letter from Andrew Liddell concerning the case of Robert Dunbar. Joshua Mckenzie had previously written to Cullen about his case, after receiving a letter from Lady Dunbar, the boy's mother. Liddell records the patient's feverish symptoms, pulse-rate and treatment in the form of a diary.
- 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 | 1156 |
RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/257 |
Main Language | English |
Document Direction | Incoming |
Date | 13 July 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 Andrew Liddell concerning the case of Robert Dunbar. Joshua Mckenzie had previously written to Cullen about his case, after receiving a letter from Lady Dunbar, the boy's mother. Liddell records the patient's feverish symptoms, pulse-rate and treatment in the form of a diary. |
Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
---|---|---|
[Case ID:497] |
Case of young Robert Dunbar (son Lady Dunbar of Hempriggs), who has feverish symptoms. |
3 |
[Case ID:2145] |
Case of Mrs Gibson who visits Cullen in Edinburgh. |
1 |
People linked to this document
Person ID | Role in document | Person |
---|---|---|
[PERS ID:339] | Author | Mr Andrew Liddell (Liddle) |
[PERS ID:1] | Addressee | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
[PERS ID:1508] | Patient | Mr Robert Sutherland Dunbar ('Mr Bob') |
[PERS ID:1568] | Patient | Mrs Gibson (Gibsone) |
[PERS ID:1567] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr Joshua McKenzie |
[PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
[PERS ID:339] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Mr Andrew Liddell (Liddle) |
[PERS ID:1503] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Lady Henrietta Dunbar (of Hempriggs) |
Places linked to this document
Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Place of Writing | Wick | North Highlands | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
Destination of Letter | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
I am to write you about Mr Robert Dunbar, whose
case was shown you lately for your advice by Dr. Joshua
Mckenzie, as it was communicated to Lady Dunbar in a
Letter of the 20th of June.
From that ↑time↑ the young gentleman continued in his ordinary
health, without any complaint, till the 7th of this month
when he was affected with a Catarrhal disorder, which
had likewise affected all the children in the family.
On the 7th, & 8th; only his throat & head were affected. ______
On the 9th; his throat was better, but the Cough began.
I did not see him till this afternoon. He had been abroad
in the forenoon at Church. - His Pulse was above 100 all
the evening. __
On the 10th; being pretty cool in the morning, he rode out for
an hour or two after breakfast. He returned warm &
thirsty. At noon his Pulse 120, continuing quick all the
afternoon & with some headache.
11th; at 7 o'clock in the morning his Pulse 100. His skin being
very moist, He was kept in bed thro' the forenoon, during which his Pulse
gradually became slower, being only 80 at 2 o'clock when
he rose, & dined. At 5 o'clock his Pulse 90, continuing so
[Page 2]
to bedtime.
12th. I gave him a gentle Puke & kept him in bed
till the evening. _____
at 7 o'clock in the morning his Pulse was 80. __ About 9 o'clock
he vomited three times with Ipecacoan, when vomiting complaind
a little of pain of his breast, where he had a stich for¬
merly, but this did not continue. Tho' kept in bed, did
not sweat today:
at 10 o'clock his Pulse 84: at 11_ Pulse 90: at noon 84:______
at 1 o'clock Pulse 84. ______ He now dined, having taken no
breakfast today. at 2 o'clock his Pulse 96: at 3 o'clock 100 ____
He rose at 4 o'clock. Pulse 100 at 6 o'clock, from 7 o'clock to
bedtime Pulse at 90. _____
13th. This morning at 7 o'clock his Pulse is at 84 in bed. ___
I have troubled you with this detail, in order that you
may be enabled to judge with more certainty of his situation.
The increase of the feverishness does not appear to be regu¬
lar. On the 10th seemed to be increased by Exercise, & on
the 11th & 12th immediately after his dinner, his Pulse
rose & quickened: ___On the 11th & 12th rest & sweating made
him cooler. ______
On the whole, till I hear again from you, I propose to
keep him as much at rest as possible, & on the lowest
& coolest diet, unless the feverishness goes off, when He
[Page 3]
will again use moderate exercise. _______________
These 3 weeks past a discharge from a small blister betwixt
his shoulders has been continued: & the returns of the
wheezing in his throat have been much seldomer than for¬
merly, & scarce any at all since the Cough began. ______
What he hawked up formerly was a clear or whitish substance
& viscid, without any Cough. _ Now the Cough brings up a
yellow viscid matter, which I apprehend is mucous; but
I cannot be certain of this, as I do not know any certain
mark by which I can distinguish the mucous from puru¬
lent substances. I wish much you would give me some
information upon this head.
He sometimes bleeds at the nose, but not so frequently
as before these 3 weeks.
Notwithstanding of the Cough & Feverishness his Colour is
rather pale for the most part: even when his pulse is quick¬
est his colour is not very high.
Ever since this disorder attacked him his strength has dimi¬
nished considerably, & he cannot bear any exercise without
fatigue. He is a very sprightly Child, And any agitation of
mind warms him and raises his pulse. ____________
His appetite is very little for any food. He has some
thirst, but it's not considerable, nor does it return at
any regular period. ___________________
[Page 4]
He still has a great tendency to costiveness, tho' his diet be
calculated as much as possible to prevent it. The only
medicine used on that account is Cremor Tartari_______
I forgot to mention that his Breathing is sometimes a
little quickened by the coughing, but on the whole is not
considerably affected. ______
I hope you will, as soon as you can, give all the advice
you think this case requires, & as particularly as your
conveniency will admit.
I an disered by his parents to ask, whether you think
that Goat Whey is proper or necessary for the patient, either
at present, or afterwards.___________
You have a Patient at Edinburgh just now, Mrs Gibsone,
whose situation I am very anxious to learn: it will be
very obliging if you take the trouble to give me your
opinion of Her. ______
With best wishes & Complements I am
Dear Sir
your most obedient & humble
Servant
Diplomatic Text
I am to write you about Mr Robt. Dunbar, whose
case was shown you lately for your advice by Dr. Joshua
Mckenzie, as it was communicated to Lady Dunbar in a
Letter of the 20th of June.
From that ↑time↑ the young gentleman continued in his ordinary
health, without any complaint, till the 7th of this month
when he was affected with a Catarrhal disorder, which
had likewise affected all the children in the family.
On the 7th, & 8th; only his throat & head were affected. ______
On the 9th; his throat was better, but the Cough began.
I did not see him till this afternoon. He had been abroad
in the forenoon at Church. - His Pulse was above 100 all
the evening. __
On the 10th; being pretty cool in the morning, he rode out for
an hour or two after breakfast. He returned warm &
thirsty. At noon his Pulse 120, continuing quick all the
afternoon & with some headache.
11th; at 7 o'clock in the morning his Pulse 100. His skin being
very moist, He was kept in bed thro' the forenoon, during which his Pulse
gradually became slower, being only 80 at 2 o'clock when
he rose, & dined. At 5 o'clock his Pulse 90, continuing so
[Page 2]
to bedtime.
12th. I gave him a gentle Puke & kept him in bed
till the evening. _____
at 7 o'clock in the morning his Pulse was 80. __ About 9 o'clock
he vomited three times with Ipecacoan, when vomiting complaind
a little of pain of his breast, where he had a stich for¬
merly, but this did not continue. Tho' kept in bed, did
not sweat today:
at 10 o'clock his Pulse 84: at 11_ Pulse 90: at noon 84:______
at 1 o'clock Pulse 84. ______ He now dined, having taken no
breakfast today. at 2 o'clock his Pulse 96: at 3 o'clock 100 ____
He rose at 4 o'clock. Pulse 100 at 6 o'clock, from 7 o'clock to
bedtime Pulse at 90. _____
13th. This morning at 7 o'clock his Pulse is at 84 in bed. ___
I have troubled you with this detail, in order that you
may be enabled to judge with more certainty of his situation.
The increase of the feverishness does not appear to be regu¬
lar. On the 10th seemed to be increased by Exercise, & on
the 11th & 12th immediately after his dinner, his Pulse
rose & quickened: ___On the 11th & 12th rest & sweating made
him cooler. ______
On the whole, till I hear again from you, I propose to
keep him as much at rest as possible, & on the lowest
& coolest diet, unless the feverishness goes off, when He
[Page 3]
will again use moderate exercise. _______________
These 3 weeks past a discharge from a small blister betwixt
his shoulders has been continued: & the returns of the
wheezing in his throat have been much seldomer than for¬
merly, & scarce any at all since the Cough began. ______
What he hawked up formerly was a clear or whitish substance
& viscid, without any Cough. _ Now the Cough brings up a
yellow viscid matter, which I apprehend is mucous; but
I cannot be certain of this, as I do not know any certain
mark by which I can distinguish the mucous from puru¬
lent substances. I wish much you would give me some
information upon this head.
He sometimes bleeds at the nose, but not so frequently
as before these 3 weeks.
Notwithstanding of the Cough & Feverishness his Colour is
rather pale for the most part: even when his pulse is quick¬
est his colour is not very high.
Ever since this disorder attacked him his strength has dimi¬
nished considerably, & he cannot bear any exercise without
fatigue. He is a very sprightly Child, And any agitation of
mind warms him and raises his pulse. ____________
His appetite is very little for any food. He has some
thirst, but it's not considerable, nor does it return at
any regular period. ___________________
[Page 4]
He still has a great tendency to costiveness, tho' his diet be
calculated as much as possible to prevent it. The only
medicine used on that account is Cremor Tartari_______
I forgot to mention that his Breathing is sometimes a
little quickened by the coughing, but on the whole is not
considerably affected. ______
I hope you will, as soon as you can, give all the advice
you think this case requires, & as particularly as your
conveniency will admit.
I an disered by his parents to ask, whether you think
that Goat Whey is proper or necessary for the patient, either
at present, or afterwards.___________
You have a Patient at Edinburgh just now, Mrs Gibsone,
whose situation I am very anxious to learn: it will be
very obliging if you take the trouble to give me your
opinion of Her. ______
With best wishes & Complements I am
Dr. Sir
your most obedt. & humble
Servt.
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