The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:1358] From: Dr John Mudie (Moodie) / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Anonymous (Patient) / 2 February 1777 / (Incoming)
Letter from Dr John Mudie concerning the case of an unnamed female patient with a menstrual cessation and various symptoms. He employs a midwife to perform an intimate proceedure.
- 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 | 1358 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/455 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Incoming |
| Date | 2 February 1777 |
| 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 Dr John Mudie concerning the case of an unnamed female patient with a menstrual cessation and various symptoms. He employs a midwife to perform an intimate proceedure. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | Yes |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:562] |
Case of an unnamed female patient, aged forty-nine, with various symptoms, including bouts of delirious speech, partly associated with a cessation of her menses, but she also has blind piles and toothache. |
4 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1646] | Author | Dr John Mudie (Moodie) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Addressee | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:1647] | Patient | |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:1646] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr John Mudie (Moodie) |
| [PERS ID:3186] | Other Physician / Surgeon |
Places linked to this document
| Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Writing | Montrose | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Destination of Letter | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Place of Handstamp | Montrose | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
I was favoured with your judicious Advice
concerning the Lady I wrote about, the 30th. December last.
When I consult a Physician of Knowledge and Experience, I
plainly state the case, without obtruding any Opinion, and
it gives me a singular satisfaction to find that your senti¬
ments concurs with and confirm mine, as to the Cause of this
Lady's Disorder, and I am much pleased, and highly obliged
to you, for the Approbation of my Manner of Treatment.
For a fortnight after I received your Letter, she seemed to
be easier, The Delirium seldom affecting Her, and the Pains
in Her Belly and Tenesmus not so severe. The Issue in Her
Head was then dried up, and agreeable to your Directions, She
got some Doses of the pulv. e Jalupp. Compos. which encreased
the Pains and Tenesmus very much during its Operation, which
so that this Medicine was laid aside, and as these Complaints
were severe, I did not try the laxative you proposed of Asafatida
and Aloes, but continued with the Lenitive Electuary, and even
this seemed to exasperate these Symptoms, so that I ordered Her
small Doses of Sal. Polychrest. in a pretty large Quantity of water
twice a Day, to procure One or two stools a Day; but this was
disliked and did not answer better than the Electuary. I have
now again begun Her to the Flos Sulphur. which she had former¬
ly taken, but by continued Use had become ineffectual.
To Ease the Pains of Her Belly Glysters of warm water with a large
[Page 2]
proportion of Oil, sitting over the steams of warm Water, and
the Pediluvium has been frequently used both before and since
I wrote you, but with little Benefit. The {illeg} Glysters
fatigued Her, and the Introduction of the Pipe, tho done by a
cautious and Skilful Midwife 1 exasperates the Tenesmus.
The Steams of warm Water sometimes eased Her ---
About ten Days ago some Leeches were applied to her feet
during a Paroxysm of the Delirium, which with the Pediluvium
appeared to Ease Her Head ---
Of late She has turned worse and weaker: The Delirium more
frequent, but not of long Continuance, The Pains of Her
Belly and Tenesmus extremely severe, and when she is affected
with these Latter Complaints, she is free from the Delirium,
and vice versa -- The Delirium returns once in two or three
Days and continues for 2, 3, or more Hours, but Keeps no regular
Period --- Before the Fit of Delirium comes on she complains
much of a Weight in Her Head -- The Tenesmus affects Her
whenever She lies down and plagues Her very much thro
the night. -- She sleeps pretty well when free from that Complaint.
Her tongue moist and clean, makes Water easily and in a suffici¬
ent Quantity, Her Pulse feeble and from 90, to 100, in the Minute.
She has a little Appetite when the Pains and Delirium are off
but I think she is losing strength daily.
I will be happy to know what further you would propose for
Her.
I am. Dear Sir
Your most obedient and
most Humble Servant
[Page 3]
Doctor William Cullen
Physician in
Edinburgh --
✍
Dr Mudie
February 2. 1777.
Notes:
1: This illustrates how a physician relied upon and trusted the skills of a female midwife at a period when midwifery was increasingly being appropriated as a male profession.
Diplomatic Text
I was favoured with your judicious Advice
concerning the Lady I wrote about, the 30th. December last.
When I consult a Physician of Knowledge and Experience, I
plainly state the case, without obtruding any Opinion, and
it gives me a singular satisfaction to find that your senti¬
ments concurs with and confirm mine, as to the Cause of this
Lady's Disorder, and I am much pleased, and highly obliged
to you, for the Approbation of my Manner of Treatment.
For a fortnight after I received your Letter, she seemed to
be easier, The Delirium seldom affecting Her, and the Pains
in Her Belly and Tenesmus not so severe. The Issue in Her
Head was then dried up, and agreeable to your Directions, She
got some Doses of the pulv. e Jalupp. Compos. which encreased
the Pains and Tenesmus very much during its Operation, which
so that this Medicine was laid aside, and as these Complaints
were severe, I did not try the laxative you proposed of Asafatida
and Aloes, but continued with the Lenitive Electuary, and even
this seemed to exasperate these Symptoms, so that I ordered Her
small Doses of Sal. Polychrest. in a pretty large Quantity of water
twice a Day, to procure One or two stools a Day; but this was
disliked and did not answer better than the Electuary. I have
now again begun Her to the Flos Sulphur. which she had former¬
ly taken, but by continued Use had become ineffectual.
To Ease the Pains of Her Belly Glysters of warm water with a large
[Page 2]
proportion of Oil, sitting over the steams of warm Water, and
the Pediluvium has been frequently used both before and since
I wrote you, but with little Benefit. The {illeg} Glysters
fatigued Her, and the Introduction of the Pipe, tho done by a
cautious and Skilful Midwife 1 exasperates the Tenesmus.
The Steams of warm Water sometimes eased Her ---
About ten Days ago some Leeches were applied to her feet
during a Paroxysm of the Delirium, which with the Pediluvium
appeared to Ease Her Head ---
Of late She has turned worse and weaker: The Delirium more
frequent, but not of long Continuance, The Pains of Her
Belly and Tenesmus extremely severe, and when she is affected
with these Latter Complaints, she is free from the Delirium,
and vice versa -- The Delirium returns once in two or three
Days and continues for 2, 3, or more Hours, but Keeps no regular
Period --- Before the Fit of Delirium comes on she complains
much of a Weight in Her Head -- The Tenesmus affects Her
whenever She lies down and plagues Her very much thro
the night. -- She sleeps pretty well when free from that Complaint.
Her tongue moist and clean, makes Water easily and in a suffici¬
ent Quantity, Her Pulse feeble and from 90, to 100, in the Minute.
She has a little Appetite when the Pains and Delirium are off
but I think she is losing strength daily.
I will be happy to know what further you would propose for
Her.
I am. Dear Sir
Your most obedient and
most Humble Servant
[Page 3]
Doctor William Cullen
Physician in
Edinburgh --
✍
Dr Mudie
Febry. 2. 1777.
Notes:
1: This illustrates how a physician relied upon and trusted the skills of a female midwife at a period when midwifery was increasingly being appropriated as a male profession.
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