Cullen

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

 

[ID:1861] From: Dr Oglethorp Wainman (Waineman) / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Miss Mary Swaine (Patient) / May 1780 / (Incoming)

Letter from an unnamed correspondent [identifiable from internal evidence as Cullen's former pupil Dr John Waineman], quoting a letter from his brother, another former pupil [Dr Oglethorp Wainman] concerning the case of Miss [Mary] Swaine, daughter of Daniel Swaine of Leverington. She has symptoms which he regards as resembling Chorea (St Vitus' Dance) after an intermittent fever. Oglethorp Wainman thinks the 'Disorders peculiar to this Marshy Country' are 'very curious & many extremely curious', and means to write about them some time.

Facsimile

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[Page 2]


 

[Page 3]


 
 

Metadata

FieldData
DOC ID 1861
RCPE Catalogue Number CUL/1/2/940
Main Language English
Document Direction Incoming
DateMay 1780
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 an unnamed correspondent [identifiable from internal evidence as Cullen's former pupil Dr John Waineman], quoting a letter from his brother, another former pupil [Dr Oglethorp Wainman] concerning the case of Miss [Mary] Swaine, daughter of Daniel Swaine of Leverington. She has symptoms which he regards as resembling Chorea (St Vitus' Dance) after an intermittent fever. Oglethorp Wainman thinks the 'Disorders peculiar to this Marshy Country' are 'very curious & many extremely curious', and means to write about them some time.
Manuscript Incomplete? No
Evidence of Commercial Posting No

Case

Cases that this document belongs to:

Case ID Description Num Docs
[Case ID:1231]
Case of Miss Swaine who had problems speaking and now suffers convulsive symptoms down her sides since having an intermittent fever.
2


People linked to this document

Person IDRole in documentPerson
[PERS ID:835]AuthorDr Oglethorp Wainman (Waineman)
[PERS ID:1]AddresseeDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:3145]ScribeMr John Waineman (Wainman)
[PERS ID:657]PatientMiss Mary Swaine
[PERS ID:835]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr Oglethorp Wainman (Waineman)
[PERS ID:1]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:658]Patient's Relative / Spouse / FriendMr Daniel Swaine (of Leverington)

Places linked to this document

Role in document Specific Place Settlements / Areas Region Country Global Region Confidence
Place of Writing Wisbech East England Europe inferred
Destination of Letter Edinburgh Edinburgh and East Scotland Europe inferred
Mentioned / Other Cambridgeshire East England Europe certain
Mentioned / Other Leverington East England Europe inferred
Mentioned / Other Lincolnshire Midlands England Europe certain

Normalized Text

[Page 1]
Sir –


The following is what I received from my Brother
"Give me leave to lay a short case before you, Miss Swaine
the Daughter of Dan. Swaine Esq. in this neighbourhood was
seiz'd with an Intermittent Fever in the latter end of 1778
which as she informs me continu'd for 6 Days, & then yeilded
to the Bark, but immediately upon it's being cur'd she
perceiv'd an affection of the left side heavier as she
expresses it, than the other, she cou'd not talk plainly but
hesitated in her speech or stammerd
–– the arm on the
same side
was colder than the other & liable to frequent Con¬
vulsive motions
, there was also a weakness in the Thigh
& Leg of the same Side –– In a few Weeks the Complaint
without any means being tried for relief, dissapear'd entirely
or at least so far as neither to be troublesome to herself,
nor observ'd by her Friends –– Within these few weeks the
Convulsive Motion in
the same Side return'd & it is evident¬
ly colder
& weaker than the right Side. I had the
pleasure of dining with her at which time I observ'd
that the Convulsion in the arm wou'd return every 3 or 4
minutes unless prevented by keeping the hand firmly
pressd by the otherwhen she walks she trails her
Leg
after her as it were – of late she has had a great
tendency to Somnolency
a little before her usual Bed-time
& about 2 Days ago she said the other Side was also a little
Convulsd –– Menses & Body regular –– Appetite natural
& seemingly healthy in every other respect. At the request
of her Friends she was bled & took a Dose of purging
Physic
. Nothing else hath been done for her, except
that she rubs her Side with a preparation of Mustard



[Page 2]

& hath taken 2 half ounces of unbruised Mustard Seed
which induc'd a Nausea & acted as a Purgative ––––


This Case very much resembles the St. Vitus' Dance two or 3
Instances of which I have seen & treated with Success by
the use of Zinc Bark & Cold Bathing. It admits of some doubt
whether this is a Species of Chorea or Hemiplegia – but it
matters little as the Method of Cure be it what (↑ich↑) it may wou'd
be nearly the same. This Lady is about 17 & inclin'd to
Corpulency & leads rather a Sedentary Life. Blisters
Rubifacientia, Exercise & Cold bathing along with Mustard
Purges are the Remedies which I shou'd recommend, but as
this is a favourite Child & the Family very unhappy about
her, I desire you will lay the Case before my good old Friend
Dr. Cullen who I know will favour me with his Sentiments
Remember me to him in the most Cordial manner & tell
him I sincerely wish him Health & long Life, & that
I mean some time or other to attempt a Description & c.
of the Disorders peculiar to this Marshy Country – my
Practice lying in the middle of the Fens of Cambridgeshire
& Lincolnshire – The Disorders here are very curious & many
extremely curious, but it wou'd perhaps be prudent to
see & read more before I commence Author – Cullenie meminis¬
se juvat 1 ––––


Pray Sir might not my Brother have been more
explicit with regard to her habit of Body?




[Page 3]



Dr. Cullen


Case of Miss Swaine
May. 1780 ––
V. XI. p. 12 ––

Notes:

1: "It is delightful to remember Cullen".

Diplomatic Text

[Page 1]
Sir –


The following is what I received from my Brother
"Give me leave to lay a short case before you, Miss Swaine
the Daughter of Dan. Swaine Esq. in this neighbourhood was
seiz'd with an Intermittent Fever in the latter end of 1778
which as she informs me continu'd for 6 Days, & then yeilded
to the Bark, but immediately upon it's being cur'd she
perceiv'd an affection of the left side heavier as she
expresses it, than the other, she cou'd not talk plainly but
hesitated in her speech or stammerd
–– the arm on the
same side
was colder than the other & liable to frequent Con¬
vulsive motions
, there was also a weakness in the Thigh
& Leg of the same Side –– In a few Weeks the Complaint
without any means being tried for relief, dissapear'd entirely
or at least so far as neither to be troublesome to herself,
nor observ'd by her Friends –– Within these few weeks the
Convulsive Motion in
the same Side return'd & it is evident¬
ly colder
& weaker than the right Side. I had the
pleasure of dining with her at which time I observ'd
that the Convulsion in the arm wou'd return every 3 or 4
minutes unless prevented by keeping ye hand firmly
pressd by the otherwhen she walks she trails her
Leg
after her as it were – of late she has had a great
tendency to Somnolency
a little before her usual Bed-time
& about 2 Days ago she said the other Side was also a little
Convulsd –– Menses & Body regular –– Appetite natural
& seemingly healthy in every other respect. At ye request
of her Friends she was bled & took a Dose of purging
Physic
. Nothing else hath been done for her, except
that she rubs her Side with a preparation of Mustard



[Page 2]

& hath taken 2 half ounces of unbruised Mustard Seed
which induc'd a Nausea & acted as a Purgative ––––


This Case very much resembles the Chorea St. Vit. two or 3
Instances of which I have seen & treated with Success by
ye use of Zinc Bark & Cold Bathing. It admits of some doubt
whether this is a Species of Chorea or Hemiplegia – but it
matters little as ye Method of Cure be it what (↑ich↑) it may wou'd
be nearly the same. This Lady is about 17 & inclin'd to
Corpulency & leads rather a Sedentary Life. Blisters
Rubifacientia, Exercise & Cold bathing along with Mustard
Purges are the Remedies which I shou'd recommend, but as
this is a favourite Child & the Family very unhappy about
her, I desire you will lay the Case before my good old Friend
Dr. Cullen who I know will favour me with his Sentiments
Remember me to him in the most Cordial manner & tell
him I sincerely wish him Health & long Life, & that
I mean some time or other to attempt a Description & c.
of the Disorders peculiar to this Marshy Country – my
Practice lying in the middle of ye Fens of Cambridgeshire
& Lincolnshire – The Disorders here are very curious & many
extremely curious, but it wou'd perhaps be prudent to
see & read more before I commence Author – Cullenie meminis¬
se juvat 1 ––––


Pray Sir might not my Brother have been more
explicit with regard to her habit of Body?




[Page 3]



Dr. Cullen


Case of Miss Swaine
May. 1780 ––
V. XI. p. 12 ––

Notes:

1: "It is delightful to remember Cullen".

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