The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:1672] From: Mr William Wightman / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Mrs Grieve (Patient) / 13 May 1779 / (Incoming)
Letter from William Wightman concerning the case of Mrs Grieve, whose arm pains are responding to treatment, but who has now developed a dry cough. He is treating her by various methods: bleeding, blistering and with medicines. Postal stamp reads "PRESS".
- 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 | 1672 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/759 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Incoming |
| Date | 13 May 1779 |
| 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 William Wightman concerning the case of Mrs Grieve, whose arm pains are responding to treatment, but who has now developed a dry cough. He is treating her by various methods: bleeding, blistering and with medicines. Postal stamp reads "PRESS". |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | Yes |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:726] |
Case of Mrs Grieve who apparently consulted Cullen in winter of 1778-79 for a stomach ailment. She has a long history of arm pains; in February 1777 underwent a partial mastectomy for suspected breast cancer in 1779 develops respiratory difficulties. |
6 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:2385] | Author | Mr William Wightman |
| [PERS ID:1] | Addressee | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:2583] | Patient | Mrs Grieve |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:2385] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Mr William Wightman |
Places linked to this document
| Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Writing | Eyemouth (Eymouth) | Borders | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Destination of Letter | Cullen's House / Mint Close | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
I was favoured with your Opinion on M.rs. Grieves Case on
the 4.th Current and in compliance with your directions put her
immediately upon a course of the Decoction of Woods with a dram
of the Peel of Mezereon Root to each bottle, & the Volatile Elixir of Guaiacum with an opiate at bed time to mitigate
the symptoms, by the use of these the pains have been easier,
but we have had another symptom to deal with, more
troublesome, & more alarming in its appearance. ––––
About the middle of last Week our Patient began to complain
of a small short dry Cough, which was at some times trouble¬
some, but for many hours would give her little disturbance,
unattended with any pain in the Breast or any other febrile
symptoms. After some days continuance the symptoms began to
encrease, with a slight sense of Stricture round the bottom
of the Chest & a small pain betwixt the shoulders, Pulse from
96 to 100, pretty full & very soft. No thirst nor shivering,
no acute pain in the breast,
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not even yet the smallest appearance of Expectoration, the
Cough exactly resembling in sound the hard painful Cough
which in Phthisis is occasioned by Tubercles when in a state
of Inflammation. No cause can be assigned that she knows of
In the Cure I began with taking 8 ounces of blood, which, being
nearly quite free from the buffy coat, & the pulse soft,
was not repeated. Pectorals of different kinds, as the mucilage
of Gum arabic made into a mixture with Syrup of Lemons, an
Electuary of the Elder & Extract. of Liquorice. Small
quantities of the Solution of Tartar Emetic so as to operate
both ways, & a blister applied to the breast, which I intend
to form into a perpetual Issue. By the use of these the
complaints are relieved though not removed, the Cough
is still very troublesome at times, & the pulse is still near
100, but soft. The patient likewise complains of sickness,
but I must observe that by being long confined & being
naturally apprehensive, occasions a variety of Com¬
[Page 3]
plaints so that I have been full only upon such as were
distressing or threatened danger.
Your further observations will be acceptable.
Your most Obedient Servant
Eymouth May 13:th
1779
[Page 4]
Doctor William Cullen
Physician
Edinburgh
Mr Wightman Concerning
Mrs Grieve.
May 13th. 1779.
V. IX. p. 179
Diplomatic Text
I was favoured with your Opinion on M.rs. Grieves Case on
the 4.th Curr.t. and in compliance with your directions put her
immediately upon a course of the Decoct. Lignorum with a dram
of the Cort: Rad: Mezereon: to each bottle, & the Elixr.
Guaiacinum Volatile with an opiate at bed time to mitigate
the symptoms, by the use of these the pains have been easier,
but we have had another symptom to deal with, more
troublesome, & more alarming in its appearance. ––––
About the middle of last Week our Patient began to complain
of a small short dry Cough, which was at some times trouble¬
some, but for many hours would give her little disturbance,
unattended with any pain in the Breast or any other febrile
symptoms. After some days continuance the symptoms began to
encrease, with a slight sense of Stricture round the bottom
of the Chest & a small pain betwixt the shoulders, Pulse from
96 to 100, pretty full & very soft. No thirst nor shivering,
no acute pain in the breast,
[Page 2]
not even yet the smallest appearance of Expectoration, the
Cough exactly resembling in sound the hard painful Cough
which in Phthisis is occasioned by Tubercles when in a state
of Inflammation. No cause can be assigned that she knows of
In the Cure I began with taking 8 ounces of blood, which, being
nearly quite free from the buffy coat, & the pulse soft,
was not repeated. Pectorals of different kinds, as the mucilage
of G: arabic made into a mixture with Syrup of Lemons, an
Electuary of the Rob Sambuci & Extract. Liquoriti. Small
quantities of the Solution of Tartar Emetic so as to operate
both ways, & a blister applied to the breast, which I intend
to form into a perpetual Issue. By the use of these the
complaints are relieved though not removed, the Cough
is still very troublesome at times, & the pulse is still near
100, but soft. The patient likewise complains of sickness,
but I must observe that by being long confined & being
naturally apprehensive, occasions a variety of Com¬
[Page 3]
plaints so that I have been full only upon such as were
distressing or threatened danger.
Your further observations will be acceptable.
Your most Obedt. Servant
Eymouth May 13:th
1779
[Page 4]
Doctor William Cullen
Physician
Edinburgh
Mr Wightman C.
Mrs Grieve.
May 13th. 1779.
V. IX. p. 179
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