The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:2016] From: Mr Alexander Mollison (Molison, Molyson) / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Miss Anna Porterfield (Patient) / 11 June 1781 / (Incoming)
Letter from Alexander Molison, concerning the case of Miss Anna Porterfield of Duchall. The patient has been disturbed by reading John Buchan's Domestic Medicine which has convinced her she is consumptive.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 4 images for this document.
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[Page 2]
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Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 2016 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/1093 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Incoming |
| Date | 11 June 1781 |
| 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 Alexander Molison, concerning the case of Miss Anna Porterfield of Duchall. The patient has been disturbed by reading John Buchan's Domestic Medicine which has convinced her she is consumptive. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | Yes |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1323] |
Case of Miss Anna Porterfield of Duchall who has a Flour Albus and related symptoms. |
5 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:121] | Author | Mr Alexander Mollison (Molison, Molyson) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Addressee | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:120] | Patient | Miss Anna Porterfield |
| [PERS ID:121] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Mr Alexander Mollison (Molison, Molyson) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:2979] | Other | Dr William Buchan |
Places linked to this document
| Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Writing | Port Glasgow | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Destination of Letter | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Mentioned / Other | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Place of Handstamp | Port Glasgow | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
As Miss Annie Porterfield
from Duchall is to consult you with regard to
some complaints I have collected what occurr'd to
me while under my Care
In the End of October Last she had been then & for a
Considerable time before Distressed with the Fluor
albus & being of a thin habit produced Weakness &
Debility
She was then Enjoind to a Strengthning
Regimen & Exercise with some Doses of Rubarb &
Magnesia then She took for some time the Peruvian Bark
in Infusion & Substance & Lime water & at another
period the Bals Capivi with Arabic Mucilage
As at that time her Menses being rather moderate
Astringents was avoided
Her Relief from these were [but?] Inconsiderable
& in this Situation went into Edinburgh for the Winter
in December where She had some medicins without
[Page 2]
much Benefit
About a Month before this She returnd
to Duchall complaining much of Debility
pain in her Breast & Side & her Breathing
Something Interrupted her pulse near 100 but
at my first Seeing her in this Situation her
Menses was on her, & therefore Delay'd for some
days till it was over doing any thing for it
When 5 or 6 ounces of Blood moderatly
[Since?] was taken from hir ↑arm↑ & a Saline mixture
with the Tartar Emetic given two or three times
in the Evenings with frequent Small Doses of
the Glauber's Salts which relived her much Reduced
the Quickness of her pulse & her feelings of pain
Seem'd to be more muscular & not to Constant
From her reading Dr Buchans book 1
which is in Every house She had a Strong
Impression that She was in a fixed Pthisis
[Page 3]
it has hurt her Spirits much,
The Leucorrhea continues & as to any
other particulars She will Inform you her self
& will be directed by you I am Respectfully
Dear Sir
Your most ObedtObedient Humble
Servant
[Page 4]
Dr Cullen
Physician
Edinburgh
Mr Moleson
Concerning Miss P.
June 1781.
V. XIII p.76
Notes:
1: Dr William Buchan's Domestic Medicine, first published in 1769 and much reprinted, was a very successful "self-help" guide. Cullen thought that Buchan's book encouraged reckless habits of self-diagnosis and treatment, but nevertheless began to write his own work on 'The Art of Preserving Health' aimed at a not dissimilar readership (unpublished manuscript in Glasgow University Library).
Diplomatic Text
As Miss Annie Porterfield
from Duchall is to consult you with regard to
some complaints I have collected what occurr'd to
me while under my Care
In the End of Octr Last she had been then & for a
Considerable time before Distressed with the Fluor
albus & being of a thin habit produced Weakness &
Debility
She was then Enjoind to a Strengthning
Regimen & Exercise with some Doses of Rubarb &
Magnesia then She took for some time the Cort peru
in Infusion & Substance & Lime water & at another
period the Bals Capivi with Arabic Mucilage
As at that time her Menses being rather moderate
Astringents was avoided
Her Relief from these were [but?] Inconsiderable
& in this Situation went into Edinr for the Winter
in Decr where She had some medicins without
[Page 2]
much Benefit
About a Month before this She returnd
to Duchall complaining much of Debility
pain in her Breast & Side & her Breathing
Something Interrupted her pulse near 100 but
at my first Seeing her in this Situation her
Menses was on her, & therefore Delay'd for some
days till it was over doing any thing for it
When 5 or 6 ounces of Blood moderatly
[Since?] was taken from hir ↑arm↑ & a Saline mixture
with the Tart Emet given two or three times
in the Evenings with frequent Small Doses of
the Sal glaub which relived her much Reduced
the Quickness of her pulse & her feelings of pain
Seem'd to be more muscular & not to Constant
From her reading Dr Buchans book 1
which is in Every house She had a Strong
Impression that She was in a fixed Pthisis
[Page 3]
it has hurt her Spirits much,
The Leucorrhea continues & as to any
other particulars She will Inform you her self
& will be directed by you I am Respectfully
Dear Sir
Your most ObedtObedient Humble
Servt
[Page 4]
Dr Wm
Physician
Edinr
Mr Moleson
C Miss P.
June 1781.
V. XIII p.76
Notes:
1: Dr William Buchan's Domestic Medicine, first published in 1769 and much reprinted, was a very successful "self-help" guide. Cullen thought that Buchan's book encouraged reckless habits of self-diagnosis and treatment, but nevertheless began to write his own work on 'The Art of Preserving Health' aimed at a not dissimilar readership (unpublished manuscript in Glasgow University Library).
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