The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:1706] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: [ADDRESSEE UNKNOWN] / Regarding: Mr William McDowall (Macdowall, McDoual, McDowal, McDouall) (Patient) / 13 July 1779 / (Outgoing)
Directions, in form of a retained fair copy, for William Macdowal. Prescription mentioned as being enclosed on separate paper is not recorded here, but appears in summary of this letter which is now [DOC ID:4473] also linked to the is case. Macdowal and his surgeon Alexander Coupland are normally resident in Dumfries but the former, to whom this letter was immediately addressed - see final paragraph - , was certainly in Edinburgh at this date in order to see Cullen for a consultation.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
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- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 7 images for this document.
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Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 1706 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/793 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 13 July 1779 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Authorial original |
| Enclosure(s) | Enclosure(s) present |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | Yes |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Directions, in form of a retained fair copy, for William Macdowal. Prescription mentioned as being enclosed on separate paper is not recorded here, but appears in summary of this letter which is now [DOC ID:4473] also linked to the is case. Macdowal and his surgeon Alexander Coupland are normally resident in Dumfries but the former, to whom this letter was immediately addressed - see final paragraph - , was certainly in Edinburgh at this date in order to see Cullen for a consultation. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Draft versions for this document exist:
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1107] |
Case of Mr William McDowal [McDowall, McDouall], who has a chest complaint and spits blood. |
19 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:1080] | Patient | Mr William McDowall (Macdowall, McDoual, McDowal, McDouall) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:566] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Mr Alexander Copland (Coupland; of King's Grange) |
Places linked to this document
| Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Writing | Cullen's House / Mint Close | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain |
| Destination of Letter | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
For William Macdowall Esqr.
It appears to me that for years past, there has
been some fault in Mr Macdowals blood and at
the same time, there has been some what to hurt
his Nerves. These are troublesome circumstances
and have given him a good deal of uneasiness,
but neither, the one nor other fault of his consti¬
tution imply danger and I hope they may be
both mended and his original constitution restored.
The Heat of his blood and the consequences of
it, the spitting of blood, are the most urgent
Symptoms, and pains must be taken upon these
in the first place.
I think it will be absolutely proper for him
to abstain entirely from Animal food till
the month of October next. And then if he shall
have been for some time without any appea¬
rance of blood Spitting or uneasiness of
[Page 2]
his breast, he may begin to take a little
Animal food and continue to take a little
every day at Dinner during the Winter or to
the month of March, but then if there is the least
suspicion ↑of his breast↑, he should from the March till the
harvest after, return to his Vegetable food.
His Diet now and at all times when he
abstains from Animal food, should be chiefly
Milk and Grain, that is bread, Rice Barley
Sago Millet and at times Oatmeal. These
maybe prepared in different Shapes, frequen¬
tly taken with milk and sometimes without
it. With these he may take frequently of
Garden things but, should avoid the cold or kinds
of Lettuce & Cucumber and the more windy
kinds as Cabbage -- All sorts of ripe fruits
he may take of moderately, and the dried fruits
[Page 3]
as figs Raisins and Currants and Prunes
may as often as he pleases make a part of
his fare, as also the preserved fruits of our
own growth --
At all times, he must abstain from all
animal food at Supper, and at all times, this
meal, should be very light or none at all.
While Mr Macdowal abstains from Animal
food, he must at the same time abstain from
all kinds of Strong drink. For ordinary drink
the safest will be plain water; but in
Winter, he may take small beer, especially
when disposed to be costive. During the Winter
when he takes a little Animal food, he may
also take a little Wine at Dinner, but it
should be a little only.
The above Regimen of Diet will I hope
be an effectual means of correcting the state
[Page 4]
of his blood and of preventing all ebulliti¬
ons of it; but this will also be much assis¬
ted, by his taking care to avoid costiveness
and for this purpose he should frequently
employ some laxative, and for a Medicine
of that kind I have given a Prescription
below; but if either that should not answer,
or become disagreable, the Castor Oil is excee¬
dingly proper; but either this, or my Medicine
show be taken in such quantity only, as
will keep the belly regular without purging.
It will be very necessary for Mr Macdowal
to be often in the fresh air and in gentle exer¬
cise, but during the Summer and especially
during such hot weather as the present, he
should avoid walking any more, than business
absolutely requires, and then too it should be
in the most gentle manner, avoiding uphill
[Page 5]
and upstairs as much as possible. He should
frequently be on horseback, riding gently for
two or three hours at a time; but during
the warm weather, he must choose the mornings
and evenings. When he is within doors, he
should avoid chambers, that are warm, either
from the Sun, fires, or company. He should
not sit long at writing, and when he does
sit at it at all, with bending his body as
little as possible.
These are the particulars of Mr Mac¬
dowals regimen, which I hope if carefully
observed will soon mend his constitution
and remove his complaints. I hope few
Medicines are necessary, but I have prescribed
on a paper apart, two, which I hope will
contribute much to cool and sweeten his
blood. The Cooling Mixture will be especially
proper to be taken so long as he has any
[Page 6]
degree of Spitting of blood, and may be laid
aside for some time and taken up again
as occasion may seem to require.
The other, should be taken just now
for a month, then laid aside for as long,
but after that intermission taken again
for a month.
If it should happen, as I do not expect
it, will, under the above Diet, that he should have
any considerable return of Spitting of blood, it may
be necessary to take a little blood from his arm
but this must be left to Mr Couplands discretion
who I percieve is of my opinion, that it should
not be done without necessity.
Cold bathing may be usefull, but cannot
be admitted at present; but if Mr Coupland
or yourself will let me know the state of your
health about the end of August, I shall then
speak to this point.
[Page 7]
✍
Mr. McDowal
Esqr.
Dr.. Cullen's opinion
13 July 1779 -
Diplomatic Text
For William Macdowall Esqr.
It appears to me that for years past, there has
been some fault in Mr Macdowals blood and at
the same time, there has been some what to hurt
his Nerves. These are troublesome circumstances
and have given him a good deal of uneasiness,
but neither, the one nor other fault of his consti¬
tution imply danger and I hope they may be
both mended and his original constitution restored.
The Heat of his blood and the consequences of
it, the spitting of blood, are the most urgent
Symptoms, and pains must be taken upon these
in the first place.
I think it will be absolutely proper for him
to abstain entirely from Animal food till
the month of October next. And then if he shall
have been for some time without any appea¬
rance of blood Spitting or uneasiness of
[Page 2]
his breast, he may begin to take a little
Animal food and continue to take a little
every day at Dinner during the Winter or to
the month of March, but then if there is the least
suspicion ↑of his breast↑, he should from the March till the
harvest after, return to his Vegetable food.
His Diet now and at all times when he
abstains from Animal food, should be chiefly
Milk and Grain, that is bread, Rice Barley
Sago Millet and at times Oatmeal. These
maybe prepared in different Shapes, frequen¬
tly taken with milk and sometimes without
it. With these he may take frequently of
Garden things but, should avoid the cold or kinds
of Lettuce & Cucumber and the more windy
kinds as Cabbage -- All sorts of ripe fruits
he may take of moderately, and the dried fruits
[Page 3]
as figs Raisins and Currants and Prunes
may as often as he pleases make a part of
his fare, as also the preserved fruits of our
own growth --
At all times, he must abstain from all
animal food at Supper, and at all times, this
meal, should be very light or none at all.
While Mr Macdowal abstains from Animal
food, he must at the same time abstain from
all kinds of Strong drink. For ordinary drink
the safest will be plain water; but in
Winter, he may take small beer, especially
when disposed to be costive. During the Winter
when he takes a little Animal food, he may
also take a little Wine at Dinner, but it
should be a little only.
The above Regimen of Diet will I hope
be an effectual means of correcting the state
[Page 4]
of his blood and of preventing all ebulliti¬
ons of it; but this will also be much assis¬
ted, by his taking care to avoid costiveness
and for this purpose he should frequently
employ some laxative, and for a Medicine
of that kind I have given a Prescription
below; but if either that should not answer,
or become disagreable, the Castor Oil is excee¬
dingly proper; but either this, or my Medicine
show be taken in such quantity only, as
will keep the belly regular without purging.
It will be very necessary for Mr Macdowal
to be often in the fresh air and in gentle exer¬
cise, but during the Summer and especially
during such hot weather as the present, he
should avoid walking any more, than business
absolutely requires, and then too it should be
in the most gentle manner, avoiding uphill
[Page 5]
and upstairs as much as possible. He should
frequently be on horseback, riding gently for
two or three hours at a time; but during
the warm weather, he must choose the mornings
and evenings. When he is within doors, he
should avoid chambers, that are warm, either
from the Sun, fires, or company. He should
not sit long at writing, and when he does
sit at it at all, with bending his body as
little as possible.
These are the particulars of Mr Mac¬
dowals regimen, which I hope if carefully
observed will soon mend his constitution
and remove his complaints. I hope few
Medicines are necessary, but I have prescribed
on a paper apart, two, which I hope will
contribute much to cool and sweeten his
blood. The Cooling Mixture will be especially
proper to be taken so long as he has any
[Page 6]
degree of Spitting of blood, and may be laid
aside for some time and taken up again
as occasion may seem to require.
The other, should be taken just now
for a month, then laid aside for as long,
but after that intermission taken again
for a month.
If it should happen, as I do not expect
it, will, under the above Diet, that he should have
any considerable return of Spitting of blood, it may
be necessary to take a little blood from his arm
but this must be left to Mr Couplands discretion
who I percieve is of my opinion, that it should
not be done without necessity.
Cold bathing may be usefull, but cannot
be admitted at present; but if Mr Coupland
or yourself will let me know the state of your
health about the end of August, I shall then
speak to this point.
[Page 7]
✍
Mr. McDowal
Esqr.
Dr.. Cullen's opinion
13 July 1779 -
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