Cullen

The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh

 

[ID:1690] From: Mr Robert Bruce / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Sir Eyre Coote (Lieutenant-General, Knight) (Patient) / 15 June 1778 / (Incoming)

Letter from Robert Bruce, Madeira, concerning the case of Sir Eyre Coote. Bruce, who owes his position to Cullen, is en-route to India as Cootes' personal physician and asks if he can send Cullen any information on diseases etc. when he reaches Calcutta. Mr Adair of London was Sir Eyre's previous physician.

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Metadata

FieldData
DOC ID 1690
RCPE Catalogue Number CUL/1/2/777
Main Language English
Document Direction Incoming
Date15 June 1778
Annotation None
TypeAuthorial original
Enclosure(s) No enclosure(s)
Autopsy No
Recipe No
Regimen No
Letter of Introduction No
Case Note No
Summary Letter from Robert Bruce, Madeira, concerning the case of Sir Eyre Coote. Bruce, who owes his position to Cullen, is en-route to India as Cootes' personal physician and asks if he can send Cullen any information on diseases etc. when he reaches Calcutta. Mr Adair of London was Sir Eyre's previous physician.
Manuscript Incomplete? No
Evidence of Commercial Posting Yes

Case

Cases that this document belongs to:

Case ID Description Num Docs
[Case ID:1098]
Case of Sir Eyre Coote who suffers from severe headaches, and who is returning to India, where Cullen hopes they may ease.
2


People linked to this document

Person IDRole in documentPerson
[PERS ID:2601]AuthorMr Robert Bruce
[PERS ID:1]AddresseeDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:2600]PatientSir Eyre Coote (Lieutenant-General, Knight)
[PERS ID:1]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:1345]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryMr Robert or John Adair
[PERS ID:2601]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryMr Robert Bruce
[PERS ID:2602]OtherMr Alex Bruce

Places linked to this document

Role in document Specific Place Settlements / Areas Region Country Global Region Confidence
Place of Writing Madeira Spain Europe certain
Destination of Letter Edinburgh Edinburgh and East Scotland Europe certain
Mentioned / Other India Asia certain
Mentioned / Other Calcutta India India Asia certain
Mentioned / Other Edinburgh Edinburgh and East Scotland Europe certain
Mentioned / Other London London and South-East England Europe certain

Normalized Text

[Page 1]
Madeira 15 June 1778
Dear Sir


You will perhaps be surprised to
hear from me at this place where I have got so far
in my way to India with Sir Eyre Coote. I shall never
forget that I am in great measure indebted to Your fa¬
vourable account of me for this appointment. ---


I have found Sir Eyre a more difficult
patient than I expected & am now to beg that You will
be so good as give me Your advice concerning his com¬
plaints. --- He has been subject for a number of Years
to severe headachs, the pain is mostly in the back part of his
head
. They observe no regular periods in their approach, neither
when they come on do they last any certain time, but some¬
times one day sometimes two or three. The pain is generally
worst in the night time. His Pulse is scarcely at all affected.
He does not think that they are much influenced by his method of
living whether it be Temperate or a little Free, altho' I am apt
to think He attributes too little to his circumstance. He does not



[Page 2]

know of any cause to which He can impute them. He once mentioned a
wound He had got in the Head, but on enquiring partcularly into it I
did not find that they had any connexion with on another. A Mr
Adair whom at Sir Eyre's desire I spoke to in London as He had for¬
merly attended him, seemed to think the disease provided from the
Primæ Viæ because He found most relief from emptying them by
Aloetic purgis & Glysters. Sir Eyre at different times has tried a vari¬
ety of medicines external & internal without much effect. At present
during the Fit besides the Aloetic medicines, he takes a dose or two of
James's Powders (which He says He has sometimes found of Service
in abating the violence of the pain.) & uses the Pediluvium. ↑In the Intervals↑ His Head
is frequently shaved & He has an Issue in his Neck. He is also trying
the Peruvian Bark, but has not yet taken it for a sufficient length of time
to enable me to form any judgement of what its effects may be, nei¬
ther are my expectations from it very sanguine ----


I shall esteem it a most particular favour if You will be so
good as give me Your Opinion of this case & point out to me
what method of Cure You would have me follow. It would make
me extremely happy if by Your advice I can be the means of relieving
Sir Eyre for independent of his high station He is one of the most
Honourable Respectable Characters that ever went to India. I shall
not fail to let Him know to whom He owes his Cure.


If there is any thing in India in which I can



[Page 3]

be of the least service to You I hope You will be so kind as inform
me I am sure nothing could give me more pleasure than any op¬
portunity of showing that I am not insensible of Your many [favours?]


I beg too You will inform me of any particular Subjects
of enquiry either concerning the diseases of the country, or any other
object You may think me qualified for --- I hope all Your
Family is well.


I am with the sincerest wishes for Your
Health & Happiness
Dear Sir
Your Most Obedient Servant
Robert Bruce


P.S. Please direct for me at Calcutta & send the Letter to
my Brother Alex. in Edinburgh who will forward it ----




[Page 4]


Dr. William Cullen
Physician
Edinburgh


Bruce Query Sir E. Coote.
June 1778.
9. p. 103.

Diplomatic Text

[Page 1]
Madeira 15 June 1778
Dr. Sir


You will perhaps be surprised to
hear from me at this place where I have got so far
in my way to India with Sr. Eyre Coote. I shall never
forget that I am in great measure indebted to Your fa¬
vourable account of me for this appointment. ---


I have found Sir Eyre a more difficult
patient than I expected & am now to beg that You will
be so good as give me Your advice concerning his com¬
plaints. --- He has been subject for a number of Years
to severe headachs, the pain is mostly in the back part of his
head
. They observe no regular periods in their approach, neither
when they come on do they last any certain time, but some¬
times one day sometimes two or three. The pain is generally
worst in the night time. His Pulse is scarcely at all affected.
He does not think that they are much influenced by his method of
living whether it be Temperate or a little Free, altho' I am apt
to think He attributes too little to his circumstance. He does not



[Page 2]

know of any cause to which He can impute them. He once mentioned a
wound He had got in the Head, but on enquiring partcularly into it I
did not find that they had any connexion with on another. A Mr
Adair whom at Sr. Eyre's desire I spoke to in London as He had for¬
merly attended him, seemed to think the disease provided from the
Primæ Viæ because He found most relief from emptying them by
Aloetic purgis & Glysters. Sr. Eyre at different times has tried a vari¬
ety of medicines external & internal without much effect. At present
during the Fit besides the Aloetic medicines, he takes a dose or two of
James's Powders (which He says He has sometimes found of Service
in abating the violence of the pain.) & uses the Pediluvium. ↑In the Intervals↑ His Head
is frequently shaved & He has an Issue in his Neck. He is also trying
the Peruvian Bark, but has not yet taken it for a sufficient length of time
to enable me to form any judgement of what its effects may be, nei¬
ther are my expectations from it very sanguine ----


I shall esteem it a most particular favour if You will be so
good as give me Your Opinion of this case & point out to me
what method of Cure You would have me follow. It would make
me extremely happy if by Your advice I can be the means of relieving
Sir Eyre for independent of his high station He is one of the most
Honourable Respectable Characters yt ever went to India. I shall
not fail to let Him know to whom He owes his Cure.


If there is any thing in India in which I can



[Page 3]

be of the least service to You I hope You will be so kind as inform
me I am sure nothing could give me more pleasure than any op¬
portunity of showing that I am not insensible of Your many [favours?]


I beg too You will inform me of any particular Subjects
of enquiry either concerning the diseases of the country, or any other
object You may think me qualified for --- I hope all Your
Family is well.


I am with the sincerest wishes for Your
Health & Happiness
Dear Sir
Your Most Obedient Servant
Robert Bruce


P.S. Please direct for me at Calcutta & send the Letter to
my Brother Alex. in Edinburgh who will forward it ----




[Page 4]


Dr. William Cullen
Physician
Edinburgh


Bruce Q. Sir E. Coote.
June 1778.
9. p. 103.

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