Cullen

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

 

[ID:1835] From: Mr Robert Ligertwood / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Mr Robert Ligertwood (Patient) / 6 April 1780 / (Incoming)

Letter from Robert Ligertwood concerning his own case.

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Metadata

FieldData
DOC ID 1835
RCPE Catalogue Number CUL/1/2/915
Main Language English
Document Direction Incoming
Date6 April 1780
Annotation None
TypeScribal copy ( includes Casebook Entry)
Enclosure(s) No enclosure(s)
Autopsy No
Recipe No
Regimen No
Letter of Introduction No
Case Note No
Summary Letter from Robert Ligertwood concerning his own case.
Manuscript Incomplete? No
Evidence of Commercial Posting No

Case

Cases that this document belongs to:

Case ID Description Num Docs
[Case ID:369]
Case of Robert Ligertwood who believes himself to have a 'nervous weakness'.
11


People linked to this document

Person IDRole in documentPerson
[PERS ID:92]AuthorMr Robert Ligertwood
[PERS ID:1]AddresseeDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:92]PatientMr Robert Ligertwood
[PERS ID:852]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr Thomas Livingston
[PERS ID:1]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:942]OtherDr Robert Whytt (Prof. Whytt/White)

Places linked to this document

Role in document Specific Place Settlements / Areas Region Country Global Region Confidence
Place of Writing Aberdeen East Highlands Scotland Europe inferred
Destination of Letter Edinburgh Edinburgh and East Scotland Europe certain
Mentioned / Other Edinburgh Edinburgh and East Scotland Europe certain
Place of Handstamp Aberdeen East Highlands Scotland Europe certain

Normalized Text

[Page 1]
Sir


It is with great pleasure that I reflect upon the few most
agreeable hours I spent in your Company at Edinburgh. I listened atten¬
tively to your advices & have ever since carefully followed them in what
concerns my health & must acknowlage I have found benefite by that
Regimen; yet my Complaints are not quite removed for I still find my
Nerves, & sometimes pains in my Breast & Bowels distress me grievously
That if I was not at times in a manner supernaturaly supported, I should
sink under them. I am much troubled with Wind & Crudities in my
Stomach & often with Slimy humours especially after I eat & my head affected
with Giddiness which as it were stupifys me at times. I have during all
this Winter, tho the Coldest mornings, used the Fresh water bath, even
when I have been so bad that when I first attempted to plunge, I scarcely
expected to be able to come out, & after Bathing, when the morning was
fair, I took a ride till Breakfast & in the forenoon, I rode from twelve
oClock for an hour & half upon a very hard sett Horse of my own, & whither
that hard sett be hurtfull to my Nerves I know not, but on riding in
the mornings I find the Giddiness in my Head, which I attribute to the
Humours being sett in motion - I always in Diets & in every thing
else abstain from Excesses of every kind. Doctor Livingston frequently
calls upon me & I have by his advice, during Winter taken three or
four Vomits which never wrought well till I used my finger or a feather
but always left my stomack full of Wind & in a low state & still I
continue to spitt in the morning a Slimy, sometimes a Blackish
matter, but noways tinged with Blood whither this be any remains
of the Venereal, or not you will be best to Judge. - A few days since
he has drawn from my Arm about eleven ounces blood by which I
found a little present benefite, but am now much as formerly. He
has given me a few doses Sacred Elixir which has keept me a little
open but still the Nerves & Viscera ail. Tho withall I enjoy
a tollerable appetite for Dinner, of which Veal is generally the prin¬
cipal Dish, & indeed is my only Diet except a little Cocoa Tea & Bread
to Breakfast & for ordinary I have sound & refreshing Sleep for Six or eight



[Page 2]

hours a night. I intend, when the weather turns Warm to begin to take
the Soluble Tartar for two or three weeks & thereafter Drink Sea Water in
the morning twice or Thrice a Week & still to continue the fresh Water Bath
& exercise of Riding in forenoons, & perhaps in a good Day Walk a mile or
two in the afternoon. I would use the the Bark too, if you think it proper
but if I do I must take it not in Water for I cant Swallow it with Water.
I shal be fond of your opinion as to my using the Soluble Tartar, which
I see Doctor Whytt prescribes to be taken in Cases much Similar to mine,
once every morning or once in two days to clear the Stomach & Viscera
of Gross Humours, affecting the Person with lowness of Spirits; But this I
won't do without your advice.


Upon the whole I beg leave to say That as I have a Singular Confidence
in your Superior Judgement, I must entreat youl consider my Complaints
& as what has pass'd twixt us & by your former prescriptions you will,
more than most others, Know my Constitution. Be so good as, howsoon
Convenient, give me your opinion & direction of what medicines you
think proper & regimen for me to follow most beneficial Both for Nerves
& Viscera which I will punctually observe & reckon my Self obliged.
Youl please observe, when a Vomit for me is thought proper, it must be
pretty Strong, as those hitherto, I apprehend has never been so, if I may judge
by their Effects. Meantime pray excuse my taking the Liberty to Inclose
two smal Bank Notes which I hope youl be so good as accept of &
believe to be with utmost Esteem

Sir your Obedient and very humble Servant
Robt. Ligertwood
Aberdeen, 6th. April, 1780


My Nerves are, at present, so much
affected, that I can not write with any ease.
I have therfore dictated this to a Particular
Friend, in whose secrecy I can confide.
Please direct for me at Mr. Moirs Marischal Street.


I almost forgott to mention that this Spring a prodigious Dry Scurff
(which I take to be Scurvy has broke out on Both my Wrists but on
no other part of my Body. It does not give me much pain & Dr. Livingston
thinks it lucky it has come out yet I thought proper to lett you know
of it.




[Page 3]


To ---
Doctor Willm. Cullen
Physician
Edinburgh


R. Ligertwood Esq.
April 6. 1780.
V.XI. p.2.

Diplomatic Text

[Page 1]
Sir


It is with great pleasure that I reflect upon the few most
agreeable hours I spent in your Company at Edinburgh. I listened atten¬
tively to your advices & have ever since carefully followed them in what
concerns my health & must acknowlage I have found benefite by that
Regimen; yet my Complaints are not quite removed for I still find my
Nerves, & sometimes pains in my Breast & Bowels distress me grievously
That if I was not at times in a manner supernaturaly supported, I should
sink under them. I am much troubled with Wind & Crudities in my
Stomach & often with Slimy humours especially after I eat & my head affected
with Giddiness which as it were stupifys me at times. I have during all
this Winter, tho the Coldest mornings, used the Fresh water bath, even
when I have been so bad that when I first attempted to plunge, I scarcely
expected to be able to come out, & after Bathing, when the morning was
fair, I took a ride till Breakfast & in the forenoon, I rode from twelve
oClock for an hour & half upon a very hard sett Horse of my own, & whither
that hard sett be hurtfull to my Nerves I know not, but on riding in
the mornings I find the Giddiness in my Head, which I attribute to the
Humours being sett in motion - I always in Diets & in every thing
else abstain from Excesses of every kind. Doctor Livingston frequently
calls upon me & I have by his advice, during Winter taken three or
four Vomits which never wrought well till I used my finger or a feather
but always left my stomack full of Wind & in a low state & still I
continue to spitt in the morning a Slimy, sometimes a Blackish
matter, but noways tinged with Blood whither this be any remains
of the Venereal, or not you will be best to Judge. - A few days since
he has drawn from my Arm about eleven ounces blood by which I
found a little present benefite, but am now much as formerly. He
has given me a few doses Sacred Elixir which has keept me a little
open but still the Nerves & Viscera ail. Tho withall I enjoy
a tollerable appetite for Dinner, of which Veal is generally the prin¬
cipal Dish, & indeed is my only Diet except a little Cocoa Tea & Bread
to Breakfast & for ordinary I have sound & refreshing Sleep for Six or eight



[Page 2]

hours a night. I intend, when the weather turns Warm to begin to take
the Soluble Tartar for two or three weeks & thereafter Drink Sea Water in
the morning twice or Thrice a Week & still to continue the fresh Water Bath
& exercise of Riding in forenoons, & perhaps in a good Day Walk a mile or
two in the afternoon. I would use the the Bark too, if you think it proper
but if I do I must take it not in Water for I cant Swallow it with Water.
I shal be fond of your opinion as to my using the Soluble Tartar, which
I see Doctor Whytt prescribes to be taken in Cases much Similar to mine,
once every morning or once in two days to clear the Stomach & Viscera
of Gross Humours, affecting the Person with lowness of Spirits; But this I
won't do without your advice.


Upon the whole I beg leave to say That as I have a Singular Confidence
in your Superior Judgement, I must entreat youl consider my Complaints
& as what has pass'd twixt us & by your former prescriptions you will,
more than most others, Know my Constitution. Be so good as, howsoon
Convenient, give me your opinion & direction of what medicines you
think proper & regimen for me to follow most beneficial Both for Nerves
& Viscera which I will punctually observe & reckon my Self obliged.
Youl please observe, when a Vomit for me is thought proper, it must be
pretty Strong, as those hitherto, I apprehend has never been so, if I may judge
by their Effects. Meantime pray excuse my taking the Liberty to Inclose
two smal Bank Notes which I hope youl be so good as accept of &
believe to be with utmost Esteem

Sir your Obdt. & very hum St.
Robt. Ligertwood
Aberdeen, 6th. April, 1780


My Nerves are, at present, so much
affected, that I can not write with any ease.
I have therfore dictated this to a Particular
Friend, in whose secrecy I can confide.
Please direct for me at Mr. Moirs Marischal Street.


I almost forgott to mention that this Spring a prodigious Dry Scurff
(which I take to be Scurvy has broke out on Both my Wrists but on
no other part of my Body. It does not give me much pain & Dr. Livingston
thinks it lucky it has come out yet I thought proper to lett you know
of it.




[Page 3]


To ---
Doctor Willm. Cullen
Physician
Edinburgh


R. Ligertwood Esq.
April 6. 1780.
V.XI. p.2.

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