The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:1881] From: Dr John Gilchrist (of Speddoch) / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Dr Thomas Mutter (Reverend) (Patient), Mr George Mackenzie (McKenzie) (Patient), Miss Elizabeth Charlotte? Balmain (Patient), Mr William McDowall (Macdowall, McDoual, McDowal, McDouall) (Patient) / 9 July 1780 / (Incoming)
Letter from John Gilchrist concerning the case of Mr Mackenzie, and giving a report on the progress of Mr McDowall and Dr Mutter. He also notes seeing Miss Balmain in Galloway "in a very poor state indeed".
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 6 images for this document.
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Metadata
Field | Data |
---|---|
DOC ID | 1881 |
RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/960 |
Main Language | English |
Document Direction | Incoming |
Date | 9 July 1780 |
Annotation | None |
Type | Authorial original |
Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
Autopsy | No |
Recipe | No |
Regimen | No |
Letter of Introduction | No |
Case Note | No |
Summary | Letter from John Gilchrist concerning the case of Mr Mackenzie, and giving a report on the progress of Mr McDowall and Dr Mutter. He also notes seeing Miss Balmain in Galloway "in a very poor state indeed". |
Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
---|---|---|
[Case ID:9] |
Case of Dr Thomas Mutter who has suffered 'a palsy' (stroke). |
14 |
[Case ID:1031] |
Case of Miss Balmain who has long been delicate and is advised to travel to Galloway via Moffat (see earlier consultation as Case 802). |
3 |
[Case ID:1107] |
Case of Mr William McDowal [McDowall, McDouall], who has a chest complaint and spits blood. |
19 |
[Case ID:1279] |
Case of Mr George Mackenzie staying near Dumfries, who has a cough and spits blood. He travels abroad where he dies. |
12 |
People linked to this document
Person ID | Role in document | Person |
---|---|---|
[PERS ID:115] | Author | Dr John Gilchrist (of Speddoch) |
[PERS ID:1] | Addressee | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
[PERS ID:472] | Patient | Dr Thomas Mutter (Reverend) |
[PERS ID:790] | Patient | Mr George Mackenzie (McKenzie) |
[PERS ID:881] | Patient | Miss Elizabeth Charlotte? Balmain |
[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:115] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr John Gilchrist (of Speddoch) |
Places linked to this document
Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Place of Writing | Dumfries | Borders | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
Destination of Letter | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
Mentioned / Other | Bristol | South-West | England | Europe | certain | |
Mentioned / Other | Galloway | Borders | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
This will be delivered to you by Mr Mackenzie
on whose case I formerly writ you at considerable
length and corresponded with you frequently. His chief
Complaint at that time was a singular, and very pain¬
ful affection of the leg, seemingly in the bone, for
which I had used Mercury, and you prescribed Meze¬
reon &c. --- In the use of such means, Mr Mackenzie
got at length entirely free of that complaint. -- If
you can still lay your hand on my former account
of his case, which it is not probable you can do, I
think it was there related that when a very
young man, he was reduced in a very great degree
by different complaints, not phthisical, but attended
at times with a profuse Hemoptoe. - From these he
likewise recovered at that time in the manner in which
I informed you. --- You see he is tall and thin, as he
has always been. - Though he says he does not suffer
from anxiety and fatigue, yet I think he cannot
[Page 2]
but be more or less liable to both, - in the
management of a very great farm, which he has
been engaged in for ten or twelve years past; - and
is one of the most distinguished improvers in this
quarter. Nobody I believe with us has proceeded on so
large a scale.
These two winters past Mr Mackenzie has
suffered considerable, and continued attacks of a
Cough &c. During the last spring he has often spit
blood; not in that profuse manner which occured in
his great and first illness, but in small quan¬
tities, as in cases properly properly phthisical. - -
Till the spitting of blood occurred I saw him but
occasionally & rarely; - and neither then nor since
has he kept strictly to any plan, - always going
about & living at large, though I dare say
very temperately. - He has used remedies too, - as
bleedings, - blistering, and a perpetual Blister; - a flannel
[Page 3]
sheet - riding &c ↑and some medicines, particularly Asafœtida which did ↑good↑↑ -- One complaint, he says is
so distressing to him as any of the rest, or
more so; - namely the most obstinate constipation.
For several weeks past I have been represent¬
ing to him (for he is a man of such a turn of mind
as admits of his being freely spoken to) - that his com¬
plaints are serious, and will require not only
a strict and continued plan of management; but,
if it be possible, some suitable and greater
measure, before winter. -- In this situation he
applies to you, and I heartily wish you may
be able to give him beneficial advice; for his
life is of much consequence not only to his
family, but to this part of the country in general;
to whom his spirited & judicious example in im¬
provements, must be very useful. - His undertaking
is a great one, - the purchase of a very con¬
siderable estate, which nothing but the continu¬
[Page 4]
ance of his life, and the full success of his ex¬
ertions, can render advantageous.
I writ you by Mr McDowall two or three
weeks ago, who missed you. An opportunity has since
occurred of his taking an easy journey to Bristol,
and I advised him to try the Hot well, if the me¬
dical people whom I knew his relations there would
make him apply to, judged it expedient.
Dr Mutter is going as slowly, and yet in a way
that encourages himself and family a good deal, for
certainly he not only speaks better, but uses his leg
& arm much more easily; & he preserves his chear¬
fulness and composure. - Yet we must see a great deal
more of amendment before entertaining hopes of
his ever being able to officiate, which to him, is the
main object. - Nothing so yet appears but that he may
live long enough. -- His diarrhœa, which I mentioned
in my letter by MrDowall is manageable.
[Page 5]
A little of the decoction of Bark & pomgranate rind
seems to have some effect in moderating it; and, when
it is given, which has been only twice, I do not
push it farther. His pulse is steady and good,
---- not so slow as at past.
I had almost forgot to mention that when in Galloway
last week I saw your patient Miss Balmain, who
is in a very poor state indeed. The hectic symptoms
seem to be increasing much; and I saw no room
for advising any thing but the right management
of diet, with some cooling things, with the occasional
use of the medicine for the Diarrhœa, and other cir¬
cumstances as in your directions.
[Page 6]
To
Doctor Cullen
Edinburgh
Dr Gilchrist
Query
MrMackenzie.
July. 1780
XI. p. 38. 39.
Diplomatic Text
This will be delivered to you by Mr Mackenzie
on whose case I formerly writ you at considerable
length and corresponded with you frequently. His chief
Complaint at that time was a singular, and very pain¬
ful affection of the leg, seemingly in the bone, for
which I had used Mercury, and you prescribed Meze¬
reon &c. --- In the use of such means, Mr Mackenzie
got at length entirely free of that complaint. -- If
you can still lay your hand on my former account
of his case, which it is not probable you can do, I
think it was there related that when a very
young man, he was reduced in a very great degree
by different complaints, not phthisical, but attended
at times with a profuse Hemoptoe. - From these he
likewise recovered at that time in the manner in wh
I informed you. --- You see he is tall and thin, as he
has always been. - Though he says he does not suffer
from anxiety and fatigue, yet I think he cannot
[Page 2]
but be more or less liable to both, - in the
management of a very great farm, which he has
been engaged in for ten or twelve years past; - and
is one of the most distinguished improvers in this
quarter. Nobody I believe with us has proceeded on so
large a scale.
These two winters past Mr Mackenzie has
suffered considerable, and continued attacks of a
Cough &c. During the last spring he has often spit
blood; not in that profuse manner which occured in
his great and first illness, but in small quan¬
tities, as in cases properly properly phthisical. - -
Till the spitting of blood occurred I saw him but
occasionally & rarely; - and neither then nor since
has he kept strictly to any plan, - always going
about & living at large, though I dare say
very temperately. - He has used remedies too, - as
bleedings, - blistering, and a perpetual Blister; - a flannel
[Page 3]
sheet - riding &c ↑and some medicines, particularly Asafœtida wh did ↑good↑↑ -- One complaint, he says is
so distressing to him as any of the rest, or
more so; - namely the most obstinate constipation.
For several weeks past I have been represent¬
ing to him (for he is a man of such a turn of mind
as admits of his being freely spoken to) - that his com¬
plaints are serious, and will require not only
a strict and continued plan of management; but,
if it be possible, some suitable and greater
measure, before winter. -- In this situation he
applies to you, and I heartily wish you may
be able to give him beneficial advice; for his
life is of much consequence not only to his
family, but to this part of the country in general;
to whom his spirited & judicious example in im¬
provements, must be very useful. - His undertaking
is a great one, - the purchase of a very con¬
siderable estate, which nothing but the continu¬
[Page 4]
ance of his life, and the full success of his ex¬
ertions, can render advantageous.
I writ you by Mr McDowall two or three
weeks ago, who missed you. An opportunity has since
occurred of his taking an easy journey to Bristol,
and I advised him to try the Hot well, if the me¬
dical people whom I knew his relations there would
make him apply to, judged it expedient.
Dr Mutter is going as slowly, and yet in a way
that encourages himself and family a good deal, for
certainly he not only speaks better, but uses his leg
& arm much more easily; & he preserves his chear¬
fulness and composure. - Yet we must see a great deal
more of amendment before entertaining hopes of
his ever being able to officiate, which to him, is the
main object. - Nothing so yet appears but that he may
live long enough. -- His diarrhœa, which I mentioned
in my letter by MrDowall is manageable.
[Page 5]
A little of the decoction of Bark & pomgranate rind
seems to have some effect in moderating it; and, when
it is given, which has been only twice, I do not
push it farther. His pulse is steady and good,
---- not so slow as at past.
I had almost forgot to mention that when in Galloway
last week I saw your patient Miss Balmain, who
is in a very poor state indeed. The hectic symptoms
seem to be increasing much; and I saw no room
for advising any thing but the right management
of diet, with some cooling things, with the occasional
use of the medicine for the Diarrhœa, and other cir¬
cumstances as in your directions.
[Page 6]
To
Doctor Cullen
Edinr
Dr Gilchrist
Q.
MrMackenzie.
July. 1780
XI. p. 38. 39.
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