Cullen

The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh

 

[ID:2072] From: Dr William Hamilton (in Glasgow) / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Lady Helen Stuart (Orr) (Stewart; of Castlemilk) (Patient), Professor Thomas Hamilton (Patient), Mr Edward Brisbane (Patient) / 7 October 1781 / (Incoming)

Letter from William Hamilton, concerning the dropsical cases of Mr Brisbane and Lady Stuart, and on the increasing weakness of his father, who has had 'a fit of Nephritis'.

Facsimile

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Metadata

FieldData
DOC ID 2072
RCPE Catalogue Number CUL/1/2/1146
Main Language English
Document Direction Incoming
Date7 October 1781
Annotation None
TypeAuthorial original
Enclosure(s) No enclosure(s)
Autopsy No
Recipe No
Regimen No
Letter of Introduction No
Case Note No
Summary Letter from William Hamilton, concerning the dropsical cases of Mr Brisbane and Lady Stuart, and on the increasing weakness of his father, who has had 'a fit of Nephritis'.
Manuscript Incomplete? No
Evidence of Commercial Posting Yes

Case

Cases that this document belongs to:

Case ID Description Num Docs
[Case ID:1329]
Case of Edward Brisbane, a merchant returned to Glasgow from America, who has ascites and anasarca (fluid retention) which prove fatal.
9
[Case ID:1367]
Case of Lady Helen Stuart of Castlemilk who reports flying rheumatic pains, a skin eruption and pains in her abdomen.
5
[Case ID:1914]
Case of Thomas Hamilton who has pains and spasms in the side and trouble walking.
6


People linked to this document

Person IDRole in documentPerson
[PERS ID:175]AuthorDr William Hamilton (in Glasgow)
[PERS ID:1]AddresseeDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:1057]PatientProfessor Thomas Hamilton
[PERS ID:2873]PatientMr Edward Brisbane
[PERS ID:90]PatientLady Helen Stuart (Stewart; of Castlemilk)
[PERS ID:1]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:175]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr William Hamilton (in Glasgow)
[PERS ID:2880]Other Physician / SurgeonMr Walter Farquhar
[PERS ID:2881]Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend
[PERS ID:175]Patient's Relative / Spouse / FriendDr William Hamilton (in Glasgow)
[PERS ID:743]OtherMrs Anna Cullen

Places linked to this document

Role in document Specific Place Settlements / Areas Region Country Global Region Confidence
Place of Writing Glasgow Glasgow and West Scotland Europe certain
Destination of Letter Edinburgh Edinburgh and East Scotland Europe certain
Mentioned / Other London London and South-East England Europe certain
Place of Handstamp Glasgow Glasgow and West Scotland Europe certain

Normalized Text

[Page 1]
Dear Sir


I recieved your letter
and I have put Mr Brisbane under the
course of Medicines you ordered.


The Cicuta he began to take immediately
upon coming home
, in the quantity of
five grains three times a day, it produced
at first some degree of vertigo but that
is now beginning to abate. The Oxymel
Colchicum
he has only taken for a week
pastt as there was none of it in town
and it required some time to get it from
Edinburgh. He takes at present a drachm
three times a day, it has as yet produced
no considerable Diuretic effects it however
keeps
his belly open, I shall encrease it
gradually to as large a quantity as he
can well bear. The Squills I made him
leave off,but the Artichoke Infusion
he still continues to take. He rides out
constantly in his chaise he has tried
horseback several times but has never



[Page 2]

been able to ride more than five or six ↑miles↑
a day. An acquaintance of Mr Brisbanes
in London who was likewise Dropsical
had been rubbed with some Embrocation
which he thought relieved him much
Mr Brisbane was so full of it, that he
insisted I should write Mr Farqhuar
& ask what it was; I did so; & find it was
a flannel cloth impregnated with the
smoke of the fumigating Gums, thrown
on live coals
. He begs me to ask you
whether or not he might try it in place
of the oil with which he ↑is↑ rubbed. I shall
likewise beg to know if I was right in
making him leave off taking the Squills
& whether the Artichoke infusion should
be continued or not.


Lady Stuart since I last wrote you has
begun to encrease in size & is now very
full
, & will probably need the operation to be
again repeated
, she still continues the
Artichoke infusion
& the Cream of Tartar.


My Father has of late been much worse
his weakness is greatly encreased & he
often complains of faintishness. He has
of late been very restless
& has had a fit
of Nephritis
that distressed him greatly.



[Page 3]

His pulse has of late been much quicker
than usual being seldom below 100
, his
appetite is bad
& he gets no sleep without
the opiate tho I should imagine it is now
less proper than ever, he has not tried
the Warm Douche you ordered him.


He begs to be kindly remembered to you
& Mrs Cullen,


I ever am Dear Sir with
Esteem & regard your
obliged humble Servant
William Hamilton

Glasgow
October 7th
1781



[Page 4]


Dr Cullen
Professor of Medicine
Edinburgh


Mr Hamilton
Concerning Mr Brisbane
& Lady Stewart
October 1781

Diplomatic Text

[Page 1]
Dear Sir


I recieved your letter
and I have put Mr Brisbane under the
course of Medicines you ordered.


The Cicuta he began to take immediately
upon coming home
, in the quantity of
five grains three times a day, it produced
at first some degree of vertigo but that
is now beginning to abate. The Oxymel
Colchicum
he has only taken for a week
pastt as there was none of it in town
and it required some time to get it from
Edinburgh. He takes at present a drachm
three times a day, it has as yet produced
no considerable Diuretic effects it however
keeps
his belly open, I shall encrease it
gradually to as large a quantity as he
can well bear. The Squills I made him
leave off,but the Artichoke Infusion
he still continues to take. He rides out
constantly in his chaise he has tried
horseback several times but has never



[Page 2]

been able to ride more than five or six ↑miles↑
a day. An acquaintance of Mr Brisbanes
in London who was likewise Dropsical
had been rubbed with some Embrocation
which he thought relieved him much
Mr Brisbane was so full of it, that he
insisted I should write Mr Farqhuar
& ask what it was; I did so; & find it was
a flannel cloth impregnated with the
smoke of the fumigating Gums, thrown
on live coals
. He begs me to ask you
whether or not he might try it in place
of the oil with which he ↑is↑ rubbed. I shall
likewise beg to know if I was right in
making him leave off taking the Squills
& whether the Artichoke infusion should
be continued or not.


Lady Stuart since I last wrote you has
begun to encrease in size & is now very
full
, & will probably need the operation to be
again repeated
, she still continues the
Artichoke infusion
& the Cream of Tartar.


My Father has of late been much worse
his weakness is greatly encreased & he
often complains of faintishness. He has
of late been very restless
& has had a fit
of Nephritis
that distressed him greatly.



[Page 3]

His pulse has of late been much quicker
than usual being seldom below 100
, his
appetite is bad
& he gets no sleep without
the opiate tho I should imagine it is now
less proper than ever, he has not tried
the Warm Douche you ordered him.


He begs to be kindly remembered to you
& Mrs Cullen,


I ever am Dear Sir with
Esteem & regard your
obliged humble Servant
William Hamilton

Glasgow
Octr 7th
1781



[Page 4]


Dr Cullen
Professor of Medicine
Edinburgh


Mr Hamilton
C. Mr Brisbane
& Lady Stewart
Octr 1781

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