The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:1232] From: Mr Bruce / To: [ADDRESSEE UNKNOWN] / Regarding: Captain W R Wilson (Patient) / January? 1776? / (Incoming)
Unsigned and undated document headed 'The Case of Captain Wilson'. The patient has 'been two or three times infected with the venereal Disease', but free from that for over 15 years. He has, however, been 'subject to violent palpitations of the Heart, and sometimes to giddiness of the Head, with noises & dimness of sight'. Writer identified as a 'Mr Bruce' from the reply (ID:378), and Wilson's own letter (ID:1233).
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 2 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 1232 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/332 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Incoming |
| Date | January? 1776? |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Authorial original |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Unsigned and undated document headed 'The Case of Captain Wilson'. The patient has 'been two or three times infected with the venereal Disease', but free from that for over 15 years. He has, however, been 'subject to violent palpitations of the Heart, and sometimes to giddiness of the Head, with noises & dimness of sight'. Writer identified as a 'Mr Bruce' from the reply (ID:378), and Wilson's own letter (ID:1233). |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:57] |
Case of Captain W. R. Wilson whose 'seizures' Cullen attributes to 'nervous weakness'. |
5 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:501] | Author | Mr Bruce |
| [PERS ID:500] | Patient | Captain W R Wilson |
| [PERS ID:501] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Mr Bruce |
Places linked to this document
| Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mentioned / Other | Bath | South-West | England | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
The Case of Captain Wilson
The Patient's age is 39, of a spare habit, and lively disposition
has led a very regular life as to eating & drinking; but has been two or
three times infected with the venereal Disease, and has taken a
great deal of Mercury in one of these Cases; but has been perfectly
free from that distemper above 15 years. He has for many years
been subject to violent palpitations of the Heart, and some times to
giddiness of the Head, with noises & dimness of sight. About 2 years
ago was obliged to consult a Physician on account of a great
oppression on the Sprits, with Indigestion, and frequent difficulty
of breathing /was told his case was nervous, and took Bark, Vitriol
&c, without success/ about a year ago went to Bath and met
with some relief. For about 4 months past has taken very frequent¬
ly 6 Grains of Rhubarb, and 6 Grains of Magnesia; as an alterative, and
thought himself uncommonly well; when about 3 Weeks ago, he
was seized after Breakfast with a noise in the head and instantly
fell into a convulsion fitt, with slavering at the mouth &c this lasted
some minutes, and tho' his senses then return'd, his Memory was weak:
about two hours after the fitt he took a Vomit, and soon after was
seized with a second fitt, more violent than the first; from which
he was recover'd by a plentifull bleeding. A second vomit was now
administered, which, as well as, the first brought up a great
quantity of green & yellow Bile. A Blister, with warm Purges now
brought the Patient about; but he has had frequent slight pains
in his head, with one considerable Giddiness; which was immediately
follow'd by sickness of the Stomach & pain in the head - This was about
7 days from the first attack - Since then he has had some slight
Giddinesses –– N. B. The Patient's Digestion is certainly languid
& faulty, but it is suspected that there some fault in the Circula¬
tion, or Brain - his pulse is naturally weak, and at these times
[Page 2]
(when attacked by the Giddiness) very languid, and a little fluttering
He has Gouty contractions in his Hands, tho' never attack'd by
a painfull fitt - and his Father died young of the Gout. – The
Patient has used very strong exercise, and when he has jump'd
from high Banks never felt any pain in the head, from whence
he concludes his present complaint ↑does not↑ proceed from water on
[Beam?] 1 ; tho' he has frequent head-ach's since the Fitts.
He now takes nervous & stomachic Medicines, and is advised to
to eat spiced meats, in order to assist his digestion. N. B. The
Giddiness generally seizes the Patient, on his first putting
himself in motion, after haveing long sat still; & turning
quick affects him much in producing the giddiness. Exerting
his Voice does not affect his head. He is frequently (↑has always been↑) troubled with
Wind in the Stomach, & long fasting always makes him sick.
A cold Bath has been recommended to him, in the present Case,
but he has not yet used it. - He sleeps well, and generally
eats with an appetite; but never to load his stomach
Notes:
1: Looks like 'Beam' but may actually be 'Brain'. In either case 'Brain' was probably what the writer intended (the possibility of fluid collecting on the brain having been mentioned above).
Diplomatic Text
The Case of Captain Wilson
The Patient's age is 39, of a spare habit, and lively disposition
has led a very regular life as to eating & drinking; but has been two or
three times infected with the venereal Disease, and has taken a
great deal of Mercury in one of these Cases; but has been perfectly
free from that distemper above 15 years. He has for many years
been subject to violent palpitations of the Heart, and some times to
giddiness of the Head, with noises & dimness of sight. About 2 years
ago was obliged to consult a Physician on account of a great
oppression on the Sprits, with Indigestion, and frequent difficulty
of breathing /was told his case was nervous, and took Bark, Vitriol
&c, without success/ about a year ago went to Bath and met
with some relief. For about 4 months past has taken very frequent¬
ly 6 Grains of Rhubarb, and 6 Gr: of Magnesia; as an alterative, and
thought himself uncommonly well; when about 3 Weeks ago, he
was seized after Breakfast with a noise in the head and instantly
fell into a convulsion fitt, with slavering at the mouth &c this lasted
some minutes, and tho' his senses then return'd, his Memory was weak:
about two hours after the fitt he took a Vomit, and soon after was
seized with a second fitt, more violent than the first; from which
he was recover'd by a plentifull bleeding. A second vomit was now
administered, which, as well as, the first brought up a great
quantity of green & yellow Bile. A Blister, with warm Purges now
brought the Patient about; but he has had frequent slight pains
in his head, with one considerable Giddiness; which was immediately
follow'd by sickness of the Stomach & pain in the head - This was about
7 days from the first attack - Since then he has had some slight
Giddinesses –– N. B. The Patient's Digestion is certainly languid
& faulty, but it is suspected that there some fault in the Circula¬
tion, or Brain - his pulse is naturally weak, and at these times
[Page 2]
(when attacked by the Giddiness) very languid, and a little fluttering
He has Gouty contractions in his Hands, tho' never attack'd by
a painfull fitt - and his Father died young of the Gout. – The
Patient has used very strong exercise, and when he has jump'd
from high Banks never felt any pain in the head, from whence
he concludes his present complaint ↑does not↑ proceed from water on
[Beam?] 1 ; tho' he has frequent head-ach's since the Fitts.
He now takes nervous & stomachic Medicines, and is advised to
to eat spiced meats, in order to assist his digestion. N. B. The
Giddiness generally seizes the Patient, on his first putting
himself in motion, after haveing long sat still; & turning
quick affects him much in producing the giddiness. Exerting
his Voice does not affect his head. He is frequently (↑has always been↑) troubled with
Wind in the Stomach, & long fasting always makes him sick.
A cold Bath has been recommended to him, in the present Case,
but he has not yet used it. - He sleeps well, and generally
eats with an appetite; but never to load his stomach
Notes:
1: Looks like 'Beam' but may actually be 'Brain'. In either case 'Brain' was probably what the writer intended (the possibility of fluid collecting on the brain having been mentioned above).
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