The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:125] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: [ADDRESSEE UNKNOWN] / Regarding: Mr Campbell (Patient), Mr Gavin Fullarton (Patient), Mr Scot (Patient) / 18? April 1781 / (Outgoing)
Reply to Colquhoun largely concerning D. Campbell's mercury treatment for syphilis and advising switching to Mezereon. Cullen also mentions MrScot 'the carpenter' and Mr Fullerton.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 3 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
[Page 3]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 125 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/14/12 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 18? April 1781 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Machine copy |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply to Colquhoun largely concerning D. Campbell's mercury treatment for syphilis and advising switching to Mezereon. Cullen also mentions MrScot 'the carpenter' and Mr Fullerton. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1371] |
Case of Mr Campbell at Greenock who has a persistent venereal infection. |
5 |
| [Case ID:1414] |
Case of the surgeon Gavin Fullarton who seeks advice on his own very painful rectal complaint. |
4 |
| [Case ID:2131] |
Case of Mr Scot who is troubled with a hearing problem. |
3 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:87] | Patient | Mr Campbell |
| [PERS ID:623] | Patient | Mr Gavin Fullarton |
| [PERS ID:3213] | Patient | Mr Scot |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:86] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr David Colquhoun |
Places linked to this document
| Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Writing | Cullen's House / Mint Close | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain |
| Destination of Letter | Greenock | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
Mr. D. Colquhoun Concerning Mr. Campbell.
Sir
I have the favour of yours by Mr.
{illeg} and after conversing with him have taken a --
{illeg} the parts affected. It is not new to me to meet with
{illeg} the taint of uncommon tenacity & obstinacy and Such
{illeg} a longer use of Mercury than patients are willing
{illeg} and longer than practitioners commonly think ne¬
[cessary]. I cannot however in the present case find any rea¬
{illeg} suppose that there has been ↑either↑ impatience or neglect and
{illeg} must impute the continuance and returns of the
{illeg} to Something peculiar in the infection or in the pa¬
[tients co]nstitution, But however all this may be I am
[convinced] that the taint in Mr. C. is now entirely eradica¬
[ted at] least as far as it can be done by Mercury. The
{illeg} is I think at present very Sound and the little Scurf
{illeg} the side of the penis does not appear to me Syphilitic
{illeg} confirmed in this both by there being no other Syphi¬
[litic Sym]ptom, and by ↑the↑ last course of mercury having no effect
[Page 2]
on the Scrotum. I can find no reason therefore [for ad¬]
vising any more Mercury but I have another [medicine]
to propose which I have often found effectual in taints that had resisted Mercury. That is [Meze¬
reon] but I must beg you to get it in proper conditions, {illeg}
the bark of the root only that is of any use and the {illeg}
is quite inert. You must therefore employ only the {illeg}
peeled off or the very Smallest fibres of the root & whatever [you]
employ take care that it has not lost its virtue by {illeg}
still retains its peculiar and very Sharp actimony.
you are to prepare a decoction by taking an ounce
of good Sarsa and boiling it in four pounds of wa[ter. When]
one pound is boiled away then add the Mezereon {illeg} [con¬]
tinue the boiling till only two pounds remain [which you]
may Sweeten by liquorice or Sugar to the pat{illeg} {illeg}
At first you may employ a dram of Mezereon only [to each]
bottle of Decoction because it gives an uneasy {illeg}
Stomachs but if that Should not be ↑the case↑ with Mr. C. you [might en¬]
crease the Mezereon to two drams to each bottle
[Page 3]
{illeg} let Mr. C. take half a bottle in divided draughts every
{illeg} seven days & a bottle every day for seven days after &
{illeg} that time is expired I Should be glad to hear from
[you] With this decoction no confinement is necessary and there
{illeg} [o]ther limitation of diet but that he Should abstain en¬
[tirely] from fish, Salted meats & high Seasonings and Should
[be exee]dingly temperate in Strong drink. Please anoint
{illeg} {illeg}ole of Scrotum & the Scurfy parts on the penis once
{illeg} a day with a pure & fresh Florence Oil that has
{illeg} {illeg}ram of Camphire to every ounce of oil dissolved in it
[I am] heartily concerned for Mr. Fullarton but hope he
{illeg} length get well but I have not time at present to
{illeg}thing about his ailments nor could I properly unless
{illeg} written me about all that has happened Since he
{illeg}. I wish heartily you could tell me that I
{illeg} Mr. Scot the Carpenters deafness. I am with
[great regard?]
Dear David Your most obedient servant
William Cullen
[Edinburgh] 8th. April
1781
Diplomatic Text
Mr. D. Colquhoun C. Mr. Campbell.
Sir
I have the favour of yours by Mr.
{illeg} and after conversing with him have taken a --
{illeg} the parts affected. It is not new to me to meet with
{illeg} the taint of uncommon tenacity & obstinacy and Such
{illeg} a longer use of Mercury than patients are willing
{illeg} and longer than practitioners commonly think ne¬
[cessary]. I cannot however in the present case find any rea¬
{illeg} suppose that there has been ↑either↑ impatience or neglect and
{illeg} must impute the continuance and returns of the
{illeg} to Something peculiar in the infection or in the pa¬
[tients co]nstitution, But however all this may be I am
[convinced] that the taint in Mr. C. is now entirely eradica¬
[ted at] least as far as it can be done by Mercury. The
{illeg} is I think at present very Sound and the little Scurf
{illeg} the side of the penis does not appear to me Syphilitic
{illeg} confirmed in this both by there being no other Syphi¬
[litic Sym]ptom, and by ↑the↑ last course of mercury having no effect
[Page 2]
on the Scrotum. I can find no reason therefore [for ad¬]
vising any more Mercury but I have another [medicine]
to propose which I have often found effectual in taints that had resisted Mercury. That is [Meze¬
reon] but I must beg you to get it in proper conditions, {illeg}
the bark of the root only that is of any use and the {illeg}
is quite inert. You must therefore employ only the {illeg}
peeled off or the very Smallest fibres of the root & whatever [you]
employ take care that it has not lost its virtue by {illeg}
still retains its peculiar and very Sharp actimony.
you are to prepare a decoction by taking an ounce
of good Sarsa and boiling it in four pounds of wa[ter. When]
one pound is boiled away then add the Mezereon {illeg} [con¬]
tinue the boiling till only two pounds remain [which you]
may Sweeten by liquorice or Sugar to the pat{illeg} {illeg}
At first you may employ a dram of Mezereon only [to each]
bottle of Decoction because it gives an uneasy {illeg}
Stomachs but if that Should not be ↑the case↑ with Mr. C. you [might en¬]
crease the Mezereon to two drams to each bottle
[Page 3]
{illeg} let Mr. C. take half a bottle in divided draughts every
{illeg} seven days & a bottle every day for seven days after &
{illeg} that time is expired I Should be glad to hear from
[you] With this decoction no confinement is necessary and there
{illeg} [o]ther limitation of diet but that he Should abstain en¬
[tirely] from fish, Salted meats & high Seasonings and Should
[be exee]dingly temperate in Strong drink. Please anoint
{illeg} {illeg}ole of Scrotum & the Scurfy parts on the penis once
{illeg} a day with a pure & fresh Florence Oil that has
{illeg} {illeg}ram of Camphire to every ounce of oil dissolved in it
[I am] heartily concerned for Mr. Fullarton but hope he
{illeg} length get well but I have not time at present to
{illeg}thing about his ailments nor could I properly unless
{illeg} written me about all that has happened Since he
{illeg}. I wish heartily you could tell me that I
{illeg} Mr. Scot the Carpenters deafness. I am with
[great regard?]
Dear David Your most obedient servant
William Cullen
[Edinr.] 8th. April
1781
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