Cullen

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

 

[ID:1696] From: Dr Patrick Scott / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Miss Anna Betham (Annie) (Patient) / 3 July 1779 / (Incoming)

Letter from Patrick Scott concerning the case of Annie Betham.

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Metadata

FieldData
DOC ID 1696
RCPE Catalogue Number CUL/1/2/783
Main Language English
Document Direction Incoming
Date3 July 1779
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 Patrick Scott concerning the case of Annie Betham.
Manuscript Incomplete? No
Evidence of Commercial Posting Yes

Case

Cases that this document belongs to:

Case ID Description Num Docs
[Case ID:879]
Case of Anna ( "Annie") Betham who has a very unusual, painful condition located in the side of her torso which has apparently collapsed inwards and is accompanied by emaciation and other symptoms, which baffles Cullen as to its cause.
4


People linked to this document

Person IDRole in documentPerson
[PERS ID:403]AuthorDr Patrick Scott
[PERS ID:1]AddresseeDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:2980]PatientMiss Anna Betham (Annie)
[PERS ID:1]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:403]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr Patrick Scott

Places linked to this document

Role in document Specific Place Settlements / Areas Region Country Global Region Confidence
Place of Writing Douglas Isle of Man England Europe certain
Destination of Letter Edinburgh Edinburgh and East Scotland Europe certain
Place of Handstamp Isle of Man England Europe certain

Normalized Text

[Page 1]
Dear Doctor . ----


I had the honor of your letter by
last packet, and am sorry my history of Miss Annie
Betham's case, was not so Explicit, and Satisfactory,
as you could have wished; all I can say is, that I
gave each Symptom in her own words, as nearly as
I could express them, thinking that would convey a
more clear Idea of the patients complaints to you
then any other Language I could make use of.----


I have further inspected the affected
parts, and examined the patient as far as in my power
and shall report every information I have been
able to learn ------ .


Whether the appearance of falling
in on the
left side, may be owing to a contraction on
that Side, or to weakness, and relaxation on the other,
is really not in my power to determine; as their ap¬
pears no contraction or Spasm externally
on that
side, neither can I observe any weakness or Relaxation
on the other. -- All I can say is, that the Mus¬
cular parts
of the left side appear Quite Emaciated
and thin, from the breast, down to the hip bone.
So much indeed, that the ribs looks as they would
cut the Skin; that the whole of the ribs appears
as if sunk down upon the contained parts, that
the patient almost constantly complains of the
internal parts being sore on this side; as She
thinks from the pressure, or falling down of
the
ribs, and breast bone, upon them.--


Whereas on the opposite ↑side↑ their is a great
deal more flesh, or Muscular parts, their is No



[Page 2]

pain, the Skin and Muscular Substance looks of a
Natural colour, not wasted &c-&c--.--.--------


Miss Betham never had any apparent
Paralytic affection
in the Eye, Mouth, Neck, arm, or limb
of the Diseased side; but upon Sudden Surprize, or
great fatigue, She has observed a Coldness as if water
was runing down that
Side, attended with a Sudden
Shakeing, and tremulous Motion
of that arm, and limb;
the weakness, and falling in of the side, would Instan¬
taneously take place, to such a degree, that she would
Not be able to Sit, or Stand Erect, but involuntarily
fall, or lean over to the Diseased Side; these feelings
are afterwards attended with a Violent Perspira¬
tion upon the
whole of the diseased Side from the
arm downwards, so great that her Stays are
Immediately wet through.----


The Above Symptoms likewise
suddenly takes place from Emotions, or Affections
of the Mind; more particularly Anger, Grief &ccc-;
as well as from bodily Exercise, or fatigue.----


The flowing of the Menses
likewise, brings it on to a violent degree, and
as the patient has had a return of that discharge
Since my last, She has not yet recovered it; as
the falling in of the ribs, the pain, pressure, and
weakness &c-&c-. of the diseased side is much greater
then when I wrote before.--------


The diet has always been light
and Nutritious, She has always Eat fresh animal
food for Dinner which Seemed to sit Easyor on
her Stomach, when Spoon Meats and Slops
would Not. -- She Never can Eat any vegetables
with her food, or Not Even Roots, Potatoes only
Excepted.----- The patient still keeps altogether



[Page 3]

free from any Complaints in her lungs as
She has no cough nor Expectoration &c--


Her appetite is better
then it was some Months ago. The Stomach
Never rejected food, Even when She was Ill
as She Never had any vomitings &--


Miss Betham drinks two Glasses
or So of red port wine after Dinner, as She
thinks it Strengthens her More than white
wines; She does Not now complain of pre¬
ter Natural heat
or thirst. ----


The Medicines you ordred
the patient is Now taking.------


I am
Sir
with the greates[t]
respect.- you[r]
most obliged & very
Humble Servant
Patrick Scott

Douglas Isle of Man
July 3d. 1779



[Page 4]


William Cullen Esquire
M:D:
Edinburgh


Dr. Scott Concerning
Miss Betham
July 3d. 1779.
X p 45

Diplomatic Text

[Page 1]
Dear Doctor . ----


I had the honor of your letter by
last packet, and am sorry my history of Miss Annie
Betham's case, was not so Explicit, and Satisfactory,
as you could have wished; all I can say is, that I
gave each Symptom in her own words, as nearly as
I could express them, thinking that would convey a
more clear Idea of the patients complaints to you
then any other Language I could make use of.----


I have further inspected the affected
parts, and examined the patient as far as in my power
and shall report every information I have been
able to learn ------ .


Whether the appearance of falling
in on the
left side, may be owing to a contraction on
that Side, or to weakness, and relaxation on the other,
is really not in my power to determine; as their ap¬
pears no contraction or Spasm externally
on that
side, neither can I observe any weakness or Relaxation
on the other. -- All I can say is, that the Mus¬
cular parts
of the left side appear Quite Emaciated
and thin, from the breast, down to the hip bone.
So much indeed, that the ribs looks as they would
cut the Skin; that the whole of the ribs appears
as if sunk down upon the contained parts, that
the patient almost constantly complains of the
internal parts being sore on this side; as She
thinks from the pressure, or falling down of
the
ribs, and breast bone, upon them.--


Whereas on the opposite ↑side↑ their is a great
deal more flesh, or Muscular parts, their is No



[Page 2]

pain, the Skin and Muscular Substance looks of a
Natural colour, not wasted &c-&c--.--.--------


Miss Betham never had any apparent
Paralytic affection
in the Eye, Mouth, Neck, arm, or limb
of the Diseased side; but upon Sudden Surprize, or
great fatigue, She has observed a Coldness as if water
was runing down that
Side, attended with a Sudden
Shakeing, and tremulous Motion
of that arm, and limb;
the weakness, and falling in of the side, would Instan¬
taneously take place, to such a degree, that she would
Not be able to Sit, or Stand Erect, but involuntarily
fall, or lean over to the Diseased Side; these feelings
are afterwards attended with a Violent Perspira¬
tion upon the
whole of the diseased Side from the
arm downwards, so great that her Stays are
Immediately wet through.----


The Above Symptoms likewise
suddenly takes place from Emotions, or Affections
of the Mind; more particularly Anger, Grief &ccc-;
as well as from bodily Exercise, or fatigue.----


The flowing of the Menses
likewise, brings it on to a violent degree, and
as the patient has had a return of that discharge
Since my last, She has not yet recovered it; as
the falling in of the ribs, the pain, pressure, and
weakness &c-&c-. of the diseased side is much greater
then when I wrote before.--------


The diet has always been light
and Nutritious, She has always Eat fresh animal
food for Dinner which Seemed to sit Easyor on
her Stomach, when Spoon Meats and Slops
would Not. -- She Never can Eat any vegetables
with her food, or Not Even Roots, Potatoes only
Excepted.----- The patient still keeps altogether



[Page 3]

free from any Complaints in her lungs as
She has no cough nor Expectoration &c--


Her appetite is better
then it was some Months ago. The Stomach
Never rejected food, Even when She was Ill
as She Never had any vomitings &--


Miss Betham drinks two Glasses
or So of red port wine after Dinner, as She
thinks it Strengthens her More than white
wines; She does Not now complain of pre¬
ter Natural heat
or thirst. ----


The Medicines you ordred
the patient is Now taking.------


I am
Sir
with the greates[t]
respect.- you[r]
most obliged & very
Humble Sert.
Patrick Scott

Douglas Isle of Man
July 3d. 1779



[Page 4]


William Cullen Esqr.
M:D:
Edinburgh


Dr. Scott C
Miss Betham
July 3d. 1779.
X p 45

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