The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:1444] From: Dr Matthew Dobson / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Mr (Patient) / 25 September 1777 / (Incoming)
Letter from Matthew Dobson in Liverpool, regarding the case of an unnamed male patient, a gouty bachelor of 50 with 'a very singular Gleet', for which he has tried a wide range of remedies, inclusing Buxton water (internally and externally). Dobson also tells Cullen he has come across 'some cases of a kind of chronic apthæ affecting the tongue & Lips', and asks his advice on these, also.
- 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 | 1444 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/539 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Incoming |
| Date | 25 September 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 Matthew Dobson in Liverpool, regarding the case of an unnamed male patient, a gouty bachelor of 50 with 'a very singular Gleet', for which he has tried a wide range of remedies, inclusing Buxton water (internally and externally). Dobson also tells Cullen he has come across 'some cases of a kind of chronic apthæ affecting the tongue & Lips', and asks his advice on these, also. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:885] |
Case of an unnamed male patient of Dr Dobson's at Liverpool who has a gleet which Cullen considers stems from a very particular form of bladder irritation upon which he theorises. |
3 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:469] | Author | Dr Matthew Dobson |
| [PERS ID:1] | Addressee | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:2125] | Patient | Mr |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:469] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr Matthew Dobson |
Places linked to this document
| Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Writing | Liverpool | North-West | England | Europe | certain | |
| Destination of Letter | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | inferred | |
| Mentioned / Other | Buxton | Midlands | England | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
A Gentleman of this place has long
been troubled with a very singular Gleet,
for which I have desired Him to take your
Advice. – He is a Batchelor, about 50
years of age, not addicted to debauches in
drinking, but has had several venereal
Infections. – Two or three of these have
been claps or slight infections, & one a
confirmed Lues. –– For the last three
years He has had a very obstinate Gleet,
without any suspicion or symptom of
fresh Infection. –– He is Gouty, & has had
some smart & regular attacks; – the Disease
has likewise been irregular, sometimes affect¬
ing the stomach & first passages, at others
wandering thro' all the Limbs. – The Gleet
is generally more considerable for fourteen or
twenty Days preceding the Gouty Paroxysm,
[Page 2]
but is much diminished & sometimes almost
entirely ceases when the Gout fixes on the
Extremities. – He has sometimes been quite
free from the Gleet for several days, & once
was so for a month. ––
The Gleet is most considerable in the morning,
from the time of his getting up to his having
a stool; in which indeed he is very regular,
having one motion every morning & that rather
lax. – During the interval between his rising
& having the stool, there is a pain stretches
cross the lower part of the belly a little above
the os pubis: after the stool, this pain ceases,
& the Gleet is much diminished. – Sometimes
the discharge is thick & glutinous, at other
times thinner & stains the Linnen with a very
lightish green tinge. ––
The Bark has been repeatedly administered
& in different forms; the Tincture of Tolu Escharotic Powder –
the Balsam of Copaiva evaporated by a gentle
heat to the consistence of a thick extract, & made
into Pills with a little Rhubarb; – the Canada
[Page 3]
Balsam; – the More Compounded Lime Water –
– Has been at Buxton & both bath'd & drank
the waters; this He has done several times,
& generally thought the complaints some¬
what better. – Has used Bougies & a varie¬
ty of Injections. – But none of these means have
afforded more than a temporary relief. –
A topical cold: bath has been used; &
sea: bathing recommended; but the latter
has been rarely used, as He is fearful on
account of the Gout.
We shall be very happy to have your assist¬
ance in this obstinate complaint, & shall
give a fair trial to any method of cure
you propose. –
I remain
Dear Sir
With Gratitude & Esteem
Your faithful
& obliged servant
[Page 4]
I shou'd have been glad cou'd the acknow¬
ledgement have been made in cash; you
will have no trouble I hope in negociating
the enclosed. ––
I have met with some cases of a kind
of chronic apthæ affecting the tongue
& Lips. – Three or four come at a time,
are small & painful, & the tongue is
during their continuance often swelled; –
they continue 10, 15, or 20 Days, then dis¬
appear; & in the course of 10, or 12 days,
return again. – If you have met with any
cases of this kind; I shall be obliged to
you, to inform me what means you have
found the most effectual for their Cure.
Dr Dobson Liverpool
concerning Vol. 8 p. 19 .8
25 September 1777
Diplomatic Text
A Gentleman of this place has long
been troubled with a very singular Gleet,
for which I have desired Him to take your
Advice. – He is a Batchelor, about 50
years of age, not addicted to debauches in
drinking, but has had several venereal
Infections. – Two or three of these have
been claps or slight infections, & one a
confirmed Lues. –– For the last three
years He has had a very obstinate Gleet,
without any suspicion or symptom of
fresh Infection. –– He is Gouty, & has had
some smart & regular attacks; – the Disease
has likewise been irregular, sometimes affect¬
ing the stomach & first passages, at others
wandering thro' all the Limbs. – The Gleet
is generally more considerable for fourteen or
twenty Days preceding the Gouty Paroxysm,
[Page 2]
but is much diminished & sometimes almost
entirely ceases when the Gout fixes on the
Extremities. – He has sometimes been quite
free from the Gleet for several days, & once
was so for a month. ––
The Gleet is most considerable in the morning,
from the time of his getting up to his having
a stool; in which indeed he is very regular,
having one motion every morning & that rather
lax. – During the interval between his rising
& having the stool, there is a pain stretches
cross the lower part of the belly a little above
the os pubis: after the stool, this pain ceases,
& the Gleet is much diminished. – Sometimes
the discharge is thick & glutinous, at other
times thinner & stains the Linnen with a very
lightish green tinge. ––
The Cortex has been repeatedly administered
& in different forms; the Tinct: Tolutan. P. E. –
the Balsam: Copaiv: evaporated by a gentle
heat to the consistence of a thick extract, & made
into Pills with a little Rhubarb; – the Canada
[Page 3]
Balsam; – the Aqu calcis magis compos. –
– Has been at Buxton & both bath'd & drank
the waters; this He has done several times,
& generally thought the complaints some¬
what better. – Has used Bougies & a varie¬
ty of Injections. – But none of these means have
afforded more than a temporary relief. –
A topical cold: bath has been used; &
sea: bathing recommended; but the latter
has been rarely used, as He is fearful on
account of the Gout.
We shall be very happy to have your assist¬
ance in this obstinate complaint, & shall
give a fair trial to any method of cure
you propose. –
I remain
Dear Sir
With Gratitude & Esteem
Your faithful
& obliged servant
[Page 4]
I shou'd have been glad cou'd the acknow¬
ledgement have been made in cash; you
will have no trouble I hope in negociating
the enclosed. ––
I have met with some cases of a kind
of chronic apthæ affecting the tongue
& Lips. – Three or four come at a time,
are small & painful, & the tongue is
during their continuance often swelled; –
they continue 10, 15, or 20 Days, then dis¬
appear; & in the course of 10, or 12 days,
return again. – If you have met with any
cases of this kind; I shall be obliged to
you, to inform me what means you have
found the most effectual for their Cure.
Dr Dobson Liverpool
conc.g Vol. 8 p. 19 .8
25 Sept.r 1777
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