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
- 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 | 2072 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/1146 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Incoming |
| Date | 7 October 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 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 ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:175] | Author | Dr William Hamilton (in Glasgow) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Addressee | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:1057] | Patient | Professor Thomas Hamilton |
| [PERS ID:2873] | Patient | Mr Edward Brisbane |
| [PERS ID:90] | Patient | Lady Helen Stuart (Stewart; of Castlemilk) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:175] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Hamilton (in Glasgow) |
| [PERS ID:2880] | Other Physician / Surgeon | Mr Walter Farquhar |
| [PERS ID:2881] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | |
| [PERS ID:175] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Dr William Hamilton (in Glasgow) |
| [PERS ID:743] | Other | Mrs 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
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
Glasgow
October 7th
1781
[Page 4]
Dr Cullen
Professor of Medicine
Edinburgh
Mr Hamilton
Concerning Mr Brisbane
& Lady Stewart
October 1781
Diplomatic Text
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
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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