The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:206] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: [ADDRESSEE UNKNOWN] / Regarding: Mr William Leslie (Leslye) (Patient) / 14 October 1781 / (Outgoing)
Reply, 'For Mr Leslie of D---'. Directions for Mr Leslie concerning his toothache.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 3 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
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Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 206 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/14/94 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 14 October 1781 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Machine copy |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply, 'For Mr Leslie of D---'. Directions for Mr Leslie concerning his toothache. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:302] |
Case of Mr William Leslie who has had a locked jaw and pain in his left cheek. As he remarks, Leslie consulted Cullen for rheumatism back in 1774-5 (See Case:466). |
3 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:177] | Patient | Mr William Leslie (Leslye) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:2652] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr Abernethy |
| [PERS ID:2653] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Mr Borthwick |
Places linked to this document
| Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Writing | Cullen's House / Mint Close | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain |
| Destination of Letter | Banff (Bamf) | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
For Mr Leslie of D{illeg}
From the [accounts?] of Mr Leslie's present complaint
which Mr Borthwick has been pleased to give me from
Mr Leslie's own letters; I have no doubt with respect to the
Nature of his ailment. In persons having carious teeth
and liable to toothach, and exposure to cold readily brings on
swelling and pain which I consider as Rheumatic and think
it is to be treated as such. I don't doubt but Dr Abernethy
has treated the ailment very properly but as I have no in¬
formation with respect ↑to↑ that I shall say here what I think
might have been, or may still be, done for Mr Leslie's relief.
Upon the first coming on of the swelling and stiffness
of the Jaw some leeches might have been applied to the part
with advantage and on saturday sennight when the swelling
after some remission had recurred again the same measure might
have been employed; and still if the stiffness of the muscles
with any degree of inflammation or even any tension of the
ligaments continues some blood drawn by leeches may be
[Page 2]
of service and can hardly do harm.
If leeches are still to be applied let them be set pretty
much forward upon the cheek at least so far that they may not
occupy the place ↑of the remedy↑ that I would next depending upon that is
blistering upon the part. If this has been already done
and the part again healed I would upon continuance of the
ailment repeat the blistering making the plaister as large
as the space under the ear and of the adjoining neck will
allow. Let it be observed that turning a part of the blisterd
place into an Issue will not be nearly so usefull as fresh
blistering.
If bleeding and blistering have been practised without
the success desired I would try fomentation with a decoction
of Camomile and Elderflowers. Let flannel Cloths four
fold be wrung out of ↑the↑ Decoction boiling hot by throwing them
into a strong towel and twisting on the two ends of that let them
be wrung as dry as possible which will allow them to be applied
very warm and by changing cloths as they begin to cool let the
fomenting be continued for {illeg} hours at one time and this at
[Page 3]
least twice a day. I need hardly say that when a fomentation is
employed great care is to be taken to guard against cold by covering
↑the↑ part very well with dry flannel and otherwise avoiding cold air
and cold drink.
While these remedies are applied to the part if there is at
same time the smallest degrees of fever an antiphlogistic regimen
is to be strictly observed and a dose of cooling Salts given now &
then as occasion may seem to require.
As soon as Mr Leslie can get his mouth tolerably well
opened I earnestly recommend it to him to get quit of all his
carious teeth as the only sure measure for preventing the like
accidents in time coming.
It is very possible that the whole of the above advice may
be superfluous but I could not refuse Mr Borthwicks desire
and I was willing to shew the particular regard I have for an
old and much esteemed patient.
Edinburgh 14th October
1781
Diplomatic Text
For Mr Leslie of D{illeg}
From the [accounts?] of Mr Leslie's present complaint
which Mr Borthwick has been pleased to give me from
Mr Leslie's own letters; I have no doubt with respect to the
Nature of his ailment. In persons having carious teeth
and liable to toothach, and exposure to cold readily brings on
swelling and pain which I consider as Rheumatic and think
it is to be treated as such. I don't doubt but Dr Abernethy
has treated the ailment very properly but as I have no in¬
formation with respect ↑to↑ that I shall say here what I think
might have been, or may still be, done for Mr Leslie's relief.
Upon the first coming on of the swelling and stiffness
of the Jaw some leeches might have been applied to the part
with advantage and on saturday sennight when the swelling
after some remission had recurred again the same measure might
have been employed; and still if the stiffness of the muscles
with any degree of inflammation or even any tension of the
ligaments continues some blood drawn by leeches may be
[Page 2]
of service and can hardly do harm.
If leeches are still to be applied let them be set pretty
much forward upon the cheek at least so far that they may not
occupy the place ↑of the remedy↑ that I would next depending upon that is
blistering upon the part. If this has been already done
and the part again healed I would upon continuance of the
ailment repeat the blistering making the plaister as large
as the space under the ear and of the adjoining neck will
allow. Let it be observed that turning a part of the blisterd
place into an Issue will not be nearly so usefull as fresh
blistering.
If bleeding and blistering have been practised without
the success desired I would try fomentation with a decoction
of Camomile and Elderflowers. Let flannel Cloths four
fold be wrung out of ↑the↑ Decoction boiling hot by throwing them
into a strong towel and twisting on the two ends of that let them
be wrung as dry as possible which will allow them to be app
very warm and by changing cloths as they begin to cool let the
fomenting be continued for {illeg} hours at one time and this at
[Page 3]
least twice a day. I need hardly say that when a fomentation is
employed great care is to be taken to guard against cold by covering
↑the↑ part very well with dry flannel and otherwise avoiding cold air
and cold drink.
While these remedies are applied to the part if there is at
same time the smallest degrees of fever an antiphlogistic regimen
is to be strictly observed and a dose of cooling Salts given now &
then as occasion may seem to require.
As soon as Mr Leslie can get his mouth tolerably well
opened I earnestly recommend it to him to get quit of all his
carious teeth as the only sure measure for preventing the like
accidents in time coming.
It is very possible that the whole of the above advice may
be superfluous but I could not refuse Mr Borthwicks desire
and I was willing to shew the particular regard I have for an
old and much esteemed patient.
Edinr. 14th Octor,
1781
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