The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:1884] From: Dr John Gilchrist (of Speddoch) / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Dr Thomas Mutter (Reverend) (Patient), Mr George Mackenzie (McKenzie) (Patient), Mr William McDowall (Macdowall, McDoual, McDowal, McDouall) (Patient) / 18 July 1780 / (Incoming)
Letter from Dr John Gilchrist at Dumfries concerning the preparation of Hemlock in the case of Mr Mackenzie, and reporting on the progress of Mr McDowall and Dr Mutter. Cullen's reply is to be sent via Mrs Dalzell, the sister of Mr Harley, Mackenzie's surgeon.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 4 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
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[Page 4]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 1884 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/963 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Incoming |
| Date | 18 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 Dr John Gilchrist at Dumfries concerning the preparation of Hemlock in the case of Mr Mackenzie, and reporting on the progress of Mr McDowall and Dr Mutter. Cullen's reply is to be sent via Mrs Dalzell, the sister of Mr Harley, Mackenzie's surgeon. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | Yes |
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: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: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) |
| [PERS ID:1709] | Other Physician / Surgeon | Mr John Harley |
| [PERS ID:2785] | Other | Mrs Dalzell (of Bunkershill) |
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 | Bunkershill | Carleton | Borders | Scotland | Europe | certain |
| Place of Handstamp | Dumfries | Borders | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
I am favoured with yours by Mr Mackenzie
and have likewise perused your further instructions
for him. I am truly sorry that your opinion tends so
much to confirm us in our fears for him. - His situ¬
ation is certainly very alarming; and he is determined
to do every thing that is necessary. Much does he
think himself beholden to you. -- My writing at pre¬
sent is to ask you if it is the Extract of Hemloc which
you would wish us to try, As our Apothecaries here {illeg}
not in the way of preparing the Extract, I began im[me]¬
diately with the powdered leaves, - getting them drie[d] [pro]¬
perly & prepared in small quantitys so as to preser[ve]
their colour & flavour perfect; - and at this season they
are in perfection -- I began with five grains twice a day
- to be increased in two days to ten, - & so on; but
I would be glad to know how far you think one may
go, & how fast, for in the use of a medicine whose ef¬
fects are certainly deleterious, and where the beginning
effects of that kind are expressly wanted, - no doubt much
caution is necessary. --- If you prefer the Extract; &
think it can be got very good in Edinburgh, please to men¬
tion at the bottom of the other leaf, that you wish the
medicine to go, & send the paper to Mrs Dalzell Bun¬
kershill, Sister to Mr Harley, who is Mr Mackenzie's Surgeon here.
[Page 2]
I shall enter no more into particulars at this time but
to say that if it shall appear necessary, Mr Mackenzie
seems determined to try a voyage, as indeed he is sensi¬
ble that if some effectual measures be not taken be¬
fore weaker it, will go hard with him.
Dr Mutter is walking a good deal better. -- Mr McDow¬
all, who is now gone to Bristol, told me that he had
called upon you, & I writ by him; tho' there was no¬
thing of consequence in the letter.
I am always Dear Sir Truly yours
To
Doctor Cullen
Physician
Edinburgh
[Page 3]
In case Dr Cullen thinks it necessary
Mr Harley begs that Mrs Dalzell will send him
by the Diligence on Friday, the following medi¬
cine, got where Dr Cullen will direct:
Extract: Cicutæ three ounces
Dr Gilchrist who writes the above, offers best
compliments to Mrs Dalzell
[Page 4]
✍
Dr Gilchrist
Query
The Cicuta.
July. 21st. 1780. -
XI. p. 41.
Diplomatic Text
I am favoured with yours by Mr Mackenzie
and have likewise perused your further instructions
for him. I am truly sorry that your opinion tends so
much to confirm us in our fears for him. - His situ¬
ation is certainly very alarming; and he is determined
to do every thing that is necessary. Much does he
think himself beholden to you. -- My writing at pre¬
sent is to ask you if it is the Extract of Hemloc wh
you would wish us to try, As our Apothecaries here {illeg}
not in the way of preparing the Extract, I began im[me]¬
diately with the powdered leaves, - getting them drie[d] [pro]¬
perly & prepared in small quantitys so as to preser[ve]
their colour & flavour perfect; - and at this season they
are in perfection -- I began with five grains twice a day
- to be increased in two days to ten, - & so on; but
I would be glad to know how far you think one may
go, & how fast, for in the use of a medicine whose ef¬
fects are certainly deleterious, and where the beginning
effects of that kind are expressly wanted, - no doubt much
caution is necessary. --- If you prefer the Extract; &
think it can be got very good in Edinr, please to men¬
tion at the bottom of the other leaf, that you wish the
medicine to go, & send the paper to Mrs Dalzell Bun¬
kershill, Sister to Mr Harley, who is Mr Mackenzie's Surgeon here.
[Page 2]
I shall enter no more into particulars at this time but
to say that if it shall appear necessary, Mr Mackenzie
seems determined to try a voyage, as indeed he is sensi¬
ble that if some effectual measures be not taken be¬
fore weaker it, will go hard with him.
Dr Mutter is walking a good deal better. -- Mr McDow¬
all, who is now gone to Bristol, told me that he had
called upon you, & I writ by him; tho' there was no¬
thing of consequence in the letter.
I am always Dear Sir Truly yours
To
Doctor Cullen
Physician
Edinr
[Page 3]
In case Dr Cullen thinks it necessary
Mr Harley begs that Mrs Dalzell will send him
by the Diligence on Friday, the following medi¬
cine, got where Dr Cullen will direct:
Extract: Cicutæ ℥iij
Dr Gilchrist who writes the above, offers best
compts to Mrs Dalzell
[Page 4]
✍
Dr Gilchrist
Q.
The Cicuta.
July. 21st. 1780. -
XI. p. 41.
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