The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:1473] From: W R / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: W R (Patient) / 22 January 1778 / (Incoming)
Letter from 'W. R.', who became ill while travelling from Virginia to New York. Erratic punctuation with stops being employed, effectively, as commas has been ratained.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 4 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
[Page 3]
[Page 4]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 1473 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/567 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Incoming |
| Date | 22 January 1778 |
| 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 'W. R.', who became ill while travelling from Virginia to New York. Erratic punctuation with stops being employed, effectively, as commas has been ratained. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1012] |
Case of 'W. R.' whose rheumatic pains developed when sailing between Virginia and New York, but may be the vestiges of an earlier venereal infection. |
1 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:2344] | Author | W R |
| [PERS ID:1] | Addressee | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:2344] | Patient | W R |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:2340] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr Middleton |
| [PERS ID:2341] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr Farquhar |
| [PERS ID:2343] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr |
Places linked to this document
| Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Writing | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Destination of Letter | Cullen's House / Mint Close | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain |
| Mentioned / Other | Britain | Europe | certain | |||
| Mentioned / Other | Scotland | Europe | certain | |||
| Mentioned / Other | Virginia | USA | North America | certain | ||
| Mentioned / Other | London | London and South-East | England | Europe | certain | |
| Mentioned / Other | New York | New York | USA | North America | certain |
Normalized Text
Last June at New York I was siezed with what I
thought Rheumatic Pains, occasioned, as I supposed, from
my being much exposed to the night air, in my passage
from Virginia to that place. I was effected with them in
both limbs & back; in about three weeks they became less
general. one of my ancles swelled considerably. appeared
inflamed and was very troublesome, one of my knees
was greatly swelld but not inflamed or painfull,
there was a Swelling on a fingure. which made me
very uneasy, but none of them appeared as if they
would come to matter. In this Situation I apply'd
to Doct Middleton, who beleived it might be a
Rhumatism & Scurvy, and as my resolution of go¬
ing to britain prevented my going under a regu¬
lar cure. he gave me Phisick to take on the Passage
to keep it under. he took blood from me, which
he said was an an extreme bad State ---------------
On the Passage I took his Medicins regularly
the Swelling of the knee Subsided. but the weakness
continued, my fingures (for now there was another
Effected) became so painfull that I was induced to
apply poltices, which broke, I kept a Salve to them
and great deal of matter was discharged from them
they were full open when I got to London. I
applied to Doct Farquhar who found me extremely
reduced by Doct Middleton Phisick, he was of
opinion that a course of Phisick would be necessary
but so much reduced, and with all, feverish, said
the fever must be removed & I must get Strong, before
the Course was begun, he therefore ordered me to
[Page 2]
eat substantial nourishing food. and gave me an
apozem 1 with milk. which I attended to. during three weeks,
and considerably recovered my flesh. and was
quit clear of a fever, when I left London ↑&↑ came down
to Scotland - while in London my fingures mended
up. the Swelling of my ancle from its appearance
induced the Doct.r to apply Something to carry it off,
but that failing poltices were applied. which at
last broke it but mended up without much dis¬
charge. and have remained from that time without
any thing being done ----------
To obtain a radical cure I apprehend the
Causes. must be traced further back. from what I
can recollect that may be Supposed to have any
affinity to the Complaint -- In the 1761. I
went to Virginia in the 18 year of my age, was of a
full habit and Seldom had any Sickness, about 1763
I had a Swelling in my Jaws, which without attending
much to, went off, however a Small Sore continued
there for Some time, perhaps ↑for↑ a Year would come and
go. but never. then. took much notice of it, & had almost
forgot any Such thing had ever been. till this com¬
plaint Set me to recollecting. there has not been
the Least appearance of it this 12 Years. I think
about 1770 I had some Swellings on the back parts
of my head. perhaps three or four times. but which dis¬
appeared in about twenty four hours. in the Year
1773 for the first and last time I had a Venereal Com¬
plaint which a Doctor of acknowledged Skill cured,
he was luckily in London in August & said he had
taken the method of the best Doctors in treating it.
Since then perhaps in 1774 I had a Small Swelling
[Page 3]
on the fore head with I think the appearance of a
pimple on it. for which the Doctr thought I should
take Phisick. which my busy way of life prevented
me from doing. but in a very imperfect manner,
however it waint off Soon without any trouble
except from the doubtfull appearance it had.
Since then I have been troubled with Sores in my
mouth. which continued with me Some time. but
for which I did little more than wash with an
astringent the Doctr gave me. I have always been
troubled with a readiness of my gums to bleed, on
the least pressure. about that time also. little drie
Scales have risen in the palms of my hands and
fingures which after remaining 8 or 10 Days pield
off ---- These, what I suppose, rheumatick complains
have been attackd me at intervals for ten Years
past. occasiond I generally thought by riding in
rain. and getting wet. however never So Severe
as to require any other application than flannel.
[Page 4]
✍
Case
22 Janly↑y↑ 1778
605
455
150 2
Diplomatic Text
Last June at New York I was siezed with what I
thought Rheumatic Pains, occasioned, as I supposed, from
my being much exposed to the night air, in my passage
from Virginia to that place. I was effected with them in
both limbs & back; in about three weeks they became less
general. one of my ancles swelled considerably. appeared
inflamed and was very troublesome, one of my knees
was greatly swelld but not inflamed or painfull,
there was a Swelling on a fingure. which made me
very uneasy, but none of them appeared as if they
would come to matter. In this Situation I apply'd
to Doct Middleton, who beleived it might be a
Rhumatism & Scurvy, and as my resolution of go¬
ing to britain prevented my going under a regu¬
lar cure. he gave me Phisick to take on the Passage
to keep it under. he took blood from me, which
he said was an an extreme bad State ---------------
On the Passage I took his Medicins regularly
the Swelling of the knee Subsided. but the weakness
continued, my fingures (for now there was another
Effected) became so painfull that I was induced to
apply poltices, which broke, I kept a Salve to them
and great deal of matter was discharged from them
they were full open when I got to London. I
applied to Doct Farquhar who found me extremely
reduced by Doct Middleton Phisick, he was of
opinion that a course of Phisick would be necessary
but so much reduced, and with all, feverish, said
the fever must be removed & I must get Strong, before
the Course was begun, he therefore ordered me to
[Page 2]
eat substantial nourishing food. and gave me an
apozem 1 with milk. which I attended to. during three weeks,
and considerably recovered my flesh. and was
quit clear of a fever, when I left London ↑&↑ came down
to Scotland - while in London my fingures mended
up. the Swelling of my ancle from its appearance
induced the Doct.r to apply Something to carry it off,
but that failing poltices were applied. which at
last broke it but mended up without much dis¬
charge. and have remained from that time without
any thing being done ----------
To obtain a radical cure I apprehend the
Causes. must be traced further back. from what I
can recollect that may be Supposed to have any
affinity to the Complaint -- In the 1761. I
went to Virginia in the 18 year of my age, was of a
full habit and Seldom had any Sickness, about 1763
I had a Swelling in my Jaws, which without attending
much to, went off, however a Small Sore continued
there for Some time, perhaps ↑for↑ a Year would come and
go. but never. then. took much notice of it, & had almost
forgot any Such thing had ever been. till this com¬
plaint Set me to recollecting. there has not been
the Least appearance of it this 12 Years. I think
about 1770 I had some Swellings on the back parts
of my head. perhaps three or four times. but which dis¬
appeared in about twenty four hours. in the Year
1773 for the first and last time I had a Venereal Com¬
plaint which a Doctor of acknowledged Skill cured,
he was luckily in London in August & said he had
taken the method of the best Doctors in treating it.
Since then perhaps in 1774 I had a Small Swelling
[Page 3]
on the fore head with I think the appearance of a
pimple on it. for which the Doctr thought I should
take Phisick. which my busy way of life prevented
me from doing. but in a very imperfect manner,
however it waint off Soon without any trouble
except from the doubtfull appearance it had.
Since then I have been troubled with Sores in my
mouth. which continued with me Some time. but
for which I did little more than wash with an
astringent the Doctr gave me. I have always been
troubled with a readiness of my gums to bleed, on
the least pressure. about that time also. little drie
Scales have risen in the palms of my hands and
fingures which after remaining 8 or 10 Days pield
off ---- These, what I suppose, rheumatick complains
have been attackd me at intervals for ten Years
past. occasiond I generally thought by riding in
rain. and getting wet. however never So Severe
as to require any other application than flannel.
[Page 4]
✍
Case
22 Janly↑y↑ 1778
605
455
150 2
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