The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:1917] From: Dr Robert Menzies (of Dura ) / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Mrs Margaret Thomson (Paterson) (Thompson; of Charleton) (Patient) / 21 September 1780 / (Incoming)
Letter from Robert Menzies from Newton (Charleton, Fife), concerning the case of Mrs Thomson of Charleton, who is hemiplegic and suffers from urinary problems and ascites. Her brother Colonel St Clair is also concerned about her.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 4 images for this document.
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Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 1917 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/997 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Incoming |
| Date | 21 September 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 Robert Menzies from Newton (Charleton, Fife), concerning the case of Mrs Thomson of Charleton, who is hemiplegic and suffers from urinary problems and ascites. Her brother Colonel St Clair is also concerned about her. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:555] |
Case of Mrs Thomson of Charlton who suffers from sleeplessness and abdominal pains described as hypochondriasis. She is later suspected of having bladder stones and has a paralysis in the arm. |
9 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:830] | Author | Dr Robert Menzies (of Dura ) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Addressee | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:831] | Patient | Mrs Margaret Thomson (Thompson; of Charleton) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:621] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Mr William Taitt (Tait) |
| [PERS ID:830] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr Robert Menzies (of Dura ) |
| [PERS ID:2232] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Mr John Thomson (Thompson; of Charleton) |
| [PERS ID:2990] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Colonel James St. Clair (Sinclair; of Dysart and Rosslyn) |
Places linked to this document
| Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Writing | Charleton House | Colinsburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain |
| Destination of Letter | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Therapeutic Recommendation | Bath | South-West | England | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
You was formerly acquainted with Mrs Thomson
of Charletons case & saw her at Newton after she was
struck with a paralysis in her left side in July 1779. As
I have seen her often since the beginning of November Last, I am
desired by Mr Thomson & Mrs Thomson to write a farther
state of her case to you. Mr Tait their ordinary surgeon is
to call for your opinion on Monday & pay you for it. If
I omitt any thing, you can be very well informed of any
further Particular you would wish to know by conversing
with him.
In winter she complained much of Costiveness, & often
a Strangury & was subject to piles at times; we gave different
Laxatives each of which for a time relieved her but we were oblid¬
ged to change either from their not producing so full an Effect
as at first or from her Impatience expecting that they should give
her more relief. For the Dysuria we tried Demulcents & at times
mild Diuretics but to little purpose we tried at times Elixir
of Guaiacum as she used to be formerly very liable to Rheumatic
Complaints & that we observed that if a moistur came on her
skin soon after going to bed that she generally had a better
night & was next day in better spirits this seemed to relieve
her from the strangury more than any thing we had tried
when she begins to turn warm the pains ↑in her↑ back, arms & lower
region of the belly turns more violent & continues so till a Gentle
[Page 2]
perspiration drives them off, but if the pains seize her before
she falls a sleep she [must?] be taken out of bed & sit in a chair
as the cold gives her a momentary ease but soon after all these
complaints turn more violent in order to procure rest that the
Elixir might have its effect we gave 8 grains of the Pacific Pills this did well for two or three night but after that lost
its effect we increased the dose to 12 grains & as some times she
had threatnings of a stupor we did not chuse to venture further
All winter & spring her appetite for food was more than ordinary
would take very heavy things to supper & dinner & would be
very much dissoblidged if we advised her to lighter things
& in less Quantity. –– In the beginning of summer she
began to make less urine than ordinary & that high coloured
with a lateritious sediment when it settled, the abdomen
was soon considerably distended with water she got some
smart Hydragogues which operated briskly & gave conside¬
rable relief both by urine & stool. The Ascites tho much
decreased is not yet entirely gone. –– She has for some
time past been very desireous of going to Bath to drink
the water. Youl judge from the above state of her present
case whether that be proper or not & I hope youl favour
us with your opinion fully on that head.
& very humble servant
Dr Cullen
[Page 3]
Colonel Sinclair who I saw just now begs that youl
give your full opinion for the satisfaction
of his poor sister
[Page 4]
To Doctor Cullen Professor of
Physick in
Edinburgh
Dr Menzies Concerning
Mrs Thompson of Charleton
September 21. 1780 ––
V. XI. p. 75. ––
Diplomatic Text
You was formerly acquainted with Mrs Thomson
of Charletons case & saw her at Newton after she was
struck with a paralysis in her left side in July 1779. As
I have seen her often since the beginning of Novr Last, I am
desired by Mr Thomson & Mrs Thomson to write a farther
state of her case to you. Mr Tait their ordinary surgeon is
to call for your opinion on Monday & pay you for it. If
I omitt any thing, you can be very well informed of any
further Particular you would wish to know by conversing
with him.
In winter she complained much of Costiveness, & often
a Strangury & was subject to piles at times; we gave different
Laxatives each of which for a time relieved her but we were oblid¬
ged to change either from their not producing so full an Effect
as at first or from her Impatience expecting that they should give
her more relief. For the Dysuria we tried Demulcents & at times
mild Diuretics but to little purpose we tried at times Elixir
Guajaci as she used to be formerly very liable to Rheumatic
Complaints & that we observed that if a moistur came on her
skin soon after going to bed that she generally had a better
night & was next day in better spirits this seemed to relieve
her from the strangury more than any thing we had tried
when she begins to turn warm the pains ↑in her↑ back, arms & lower
region of the belly turns more violent & continues so till a Gentle
[Page 2]
perspiration drives them off, but if the pains seize her before
she falls a sleep she [must?] be taken out of bed & sit in a chair
as the cold gives her a momentary ease but soon after all these
complaints turn more violent in order to procure rest that the
Elixir might have its effect we gave 8 grains of the Pillulæ
Pacifica this did well for two or three night but after that lost
its effect we increased the dose to 12 grains & as some times she
had threatnings of a stupor we did not chuse to venture further
All winter & spring her appetite for food was more than ordinary
would take very heavy things to supper & dinner & would be
very much dissoblidged if we advised her to lighter things
& in less Quantity. –– In the beginning of summer she
began to make less urine than ordinary & that high coloured
with a lateritious sediment when it settled, the abdomen
was soon considerably distended with water she got some
smart Hydragogues which operated briskly & gave conside¬
rable relief both by urine & stool. The Ascites tho much
decreased is not yet entirely gone. –– She has for some
time past been very desireous of going to Bath to drink
the water. Youl judge from the above state of her present
case whether that be proper or not & I hope youl favour
us with your opinion fully on that head.
& very humble servt
Dr Cullen
[Page 3]
Col. Sinclair who I saw just now begs that youl
give your full opinion for the satisfaction
of his poor sister
[Page 4]
To Doctor Cullen Professor of
Physick in
Edinburgh
Dr Menzies C.
Mrs Thompson of Charleton
Septr 21. 1780 ––
V. XI. p. 75. ––
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