The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:214] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Anonymous / Regarding: Mrs Y. Z. (Patient) / 30 October 1781 / (Outgoing)
Reply with directions on taking medicines for 'Mrs Y. Z.', probably to her (unnamed) physician. Since Cullen has resorted to anonymity, and mercury is being employed the case is probably venereal and he may have deliberately destroyed any incoming letter seeking advice.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 3 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
[Page 3]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 214 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/14/100 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 30 October 1781 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Machine copy |
| Enclosure(s) | Enclosure(s) present |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | Yes |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply with directions on taking medicines for 'Mrs Y. Z.', probably to her (unnamed) physician. Since Cullen has resorted to anonymity, and mercury is being employed the case is probably venereal and he may have deliberately destroyed any incoming letter seeking advice. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1435] |
Case of "Mrs Y. Z." who is prescribed a mercurial injection and other mercurial medicines (use of mercury and a pseudonym implies case may be venereal). |
1 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:4188] | Addressee | |
| [PERS ID:4187] | Patient | Mrs Y. Z. |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:4188] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary |
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 |
Normalized Text
For Mrs Y. Z.
Tho I have carefully considered the whole of the
circumstances of this Ladys complaints I am not yet de¬
termined in opinion with regard to the nature of them but
I am clear in advising Some remedies which are perfectly
Safe and which will either remove the complaint entirely
or discover the nature of it more distinctly.
One of these remedies is an Injection to be used
two or three times a day washing before it is used with
a little milk and water. Before the Injection is used
the phial containing it is to be set in warm water that
the cold may be put off the Injection before it is used.
If this Injection on being used gives no Smart at al
the Strengh of it must be increased for it is necessary
that it Should give a little smarting but on the other hand
if it gives a great deal the Strength of it must be diminished
I Shall be ready upon a report to direct this matter.
The other remedy I would advice is a Set of pills
[Page 2]
of which the lady will be pleased to take one every
night at bedtime washing it down with a little wine
& water. These pills require no confinement or
change of diet. If they Seem to have any effect upon
the bowels I would wish to know to what length it goes
During the use of these remedies tho confinement
is not necessary it is very proper to take a little more
than usual care to guard against Cold.
It is proper also to make some choice in diet.
Fish of all kinds are to be avoided. All Salted meats also
and all Shigh Seasoning to be abstained from. Some Solid
meat may be taken at dinner every day but the most
proper Supper will be Some kind of milkmeat. Along
with meat Some garden things may be taken but the
more windy kinds Should be avoided or at least taken
Sparingly.
At dinner a glass or two of white wine may be taken
and I need not Say to a Lady that more would do harm. -
[Page 3]
For Mrs Y. Z.
Take eight ounces of pure rose Water and two grains of corrosive Sublimate of Mercury. Dissolve, and Label: For an Injection
Take one and a half drachms of Liquorice extract. Pour small amounts of hot water onto the crumbs - just enough to soften it - and pound it into a pulp, to which add half a drachm of a Mercurial pill Mass, and mix it carefully with just enough hot water; and the mass should be divided into pills of five grains each. Label: Specific Pills one to be taken every night at bedtime
30th October
1781
Diplomatic Text
For Mrs Y. Z.
Tho I have carefully considered the whole of the
circumstances of this Ladys complaints I am not yet de¬
termined in opinion with regard to the nature of them but
I am clear in advising Some remedies which are perfectly
Safe and which will either remove the complaint entirely
or discover the nature of it more distinctly.
One of these remedies is an Injection to be used
two or three times a day washing before it is used with
a little milk and water. Before the Injection is used
the phial containing it is to be set in warm water that
the cold may be put off the Injection before it is used.
If this Injection on being used gives no Smart at al
the Strengh of it must be increased for it is necessary
that it Should give a little smarting but on the other hand
if it gives a great deal the Strength of it must be diminished
I Shall be ready upon a report to direct this matter.
The other remedy I would advice is a Set of pills
[Page 2]
of which the lady will be pleased to take one every
night at bedtime washing it down with a little wine
& water. These pills require no confinement or
change of diet. If they Seem to have any effect upon
the bowels I would wish to know to what length it goes
During the use of these remedies tho confinement
is not necessary it is very proper to take a little more
than usual care to guard against Cold.
It is proper also to make some choice in diet.
Fish of all kinds are to be avoided. All Salted meats also
and all Shigh Seasoning to be abstained from. Some Solid
meat may be taken at dinner every day but the most
proper Supper will be Some kind of milkmeat. Along
with meat Some garden things may be taken but the
more windy kinds Should be avoided or at least taken
Sparingly.
At dinner a glass or two of white wine may be taken
and I need not Say to a Lady that more would do harm. -
[Page 3]
For Mrs Y. Z.
℞ Aq. rosar. pur. ℥viij
Mercur. Sublimat. corros. gr. ij
Solve et Signa For an Injection
℞ Extract. glycyrrhiz. ʒiſs
In frustula conciso affunde aquæ fervent. q. s.
ut mollescat et confundatur in pulpam cui adde
Mass. pil. Mercurial. ʒſs
et cum aq. fervent. q. s. accurate misce et f.
massa dividenda in pil. Sing. gr. v.
Sig. Specific Pills one to be taken every night
at bedtime
30th Octor.
1781
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