The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:2222] From: Dr Joshua Sampson (Samson) / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Dr Alexander Wilson (Patient) / 28 May 1782 / (Incoming)
Letter from Dr Joshua Sampson of Beverley, concerning the case of Dr Wilson, 'whose situation I found most deplorably bad'. He notes that Wilson had previously been in the West Indies, where he had suffered from a 'redundancy of bile'. He describes his current symptoms as 'a perfect Anasarca' affecting the legs, scrotum, and even the brain, and is not optimistic.
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- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
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Facsimile
There are 4 images for this document.
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Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 2222 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/1292 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Incoming |
| Date | 28 May 1782 |
| 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 Dr Joshua Sampson of Beverley, concerning the case of Dr Wilson, 'whose situation I found most deplorably bad'. He notes that Wilson had previously been in the West Indies, where he had suffered from a 'redundancy of bile'. He describes his current symptoms as 'a perfect Anasarca' affecting the legs, scrotum, and even the brain, and is not optimistic. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | Yes |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1479] |
Case of Dr Wilson who is very ill with suspected gout. |
6 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:3966] | Author | Dr Joshua Sampson (Samson) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Addressee | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:828] | Patient | Dr Alexander Wilson |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:3966] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr Joshua Sampson (Samson) |
| [PERS ID:3971] | Other Physician / Surgeon | Dr Francis Milman (Millman; later Sir Francis Milman, Bt.) |
| [PERS ID:3976] | Other Physician / Surgeon | Professor Francis Home |
| [PERS ID:3969] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Mr Wilson |
Places linked to this document
| Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Writing | Beverley | North-East | England | Europe | certain | |
| Destination of Letter | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Mentioned / Other | West Indies | certain | ||||
| Mentioned / Other | Hull | North-East | England | Europe | certain | |
| Place of Handstamp | Beverley | North-East | England | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
I was this day for the first time sent
for from Beverley to visit Dr Wilson at Hull
whose Situation I found most deplorably bad.
When in the West Indies Dr Wilson was subject
to frequent & large Redundancy of Bile: since his
Return into England he has had that Complaint
less frequent & less severe; but has been
more subject to the Gout; partic↑ul↑arly 3 years
ago he had a severe fit. since that time
he has had several fits but none continuing
more than two or 3 days with Violence &
Inflammation, often teazing him a week
or more with slight Pains so as to render
Walking disagreeable & oftentimes painful:
in this State he has continued nearly two
[Page 2]
Years, & finding himself rather emaciated
he took a Ride to Beverly to consult me
I found him exceedingly relaxed that is of a
loose fibre, & his Legs œdamatous which
he has always considered as the Consequence
of the Gout. I recommended Tonics, Exercise
in a Chaise & on Horseback, with gently
opening Medicines. This is about 3 weeks
ago I heard no more from him before
this Day; when I found him nearly as follows.
His Pulse about 90 constantly not less than
that at any time weak & hard.
His Legs, Thighs, Scrotum enormously
swelled, shining & pasty. his body not swelled
yet nor any hardness or Swelling about the
Liver or elsewhere. his face, Breast Arms
much thinner, with a pale & yellowish Complexion
more pale than yellow. White of his Eyes very
clear. Urine in tolerable Quantities no
[Page 3]
Scarcity, but exceedingly limpid. Thirst
has been great, which he has indulged to a
great degree from some Observations he reade in Dr
Home 1 & Dr Milman 2 on the Dropsy, but the thirst
has not been great these 2 last days. Dyspnœa
great on the least motion which is only from the
bed to the Chair & back, &c
There seems a perfect Anasarca, it even
affects his Brain from his constant drowsiness
short interrupted Sleeps & Starts & his
having chided his Son from giving
him red Ink instead of black which
was in truth black. His body is gently
open. he is afraid of drastics on account of the
Piles, he seems to be determined against any
thing of this kind. I am I form a most un¬
favorable Prognosis, & am truly sorry for his
Situation The above is an exact State of his
present State which I thought better to relate
than to hazard any conjecture of my own. I
only wish from this that you may be able to think
of something to his advantage. I recommended
[Page 4]
a gentle dose of Physic & some tonics and the Seneka
The distressed family begs your Assistance by the
first Post. I must now thank you for the first
Rudiments in Physic which I received from you 14 years
ago much to my Advantage & am most thankfully
your most
p 79.
His ↑right↑ Knees are (↑is↑) now red & painful yesterday
the Top of his foot was so, which he thinks is gouty.
He is also troubled with spasms & cramp in bed.
On Sunday his Scrotum was punctured & blisters applied
just below the Knee. They have discharged & do so now plenti¬
fully & have abated some symptoms upwards.
Doctor Cullen
Edinburgh
Diplomatic Text
I was this day for ye first time sent
for from Beverley to visit Dr Wilson at Hull
whose Situation I found most deplorably bad.
When in ye Wt. Indies Dr Wilson was subject
to freqt. & large Redundancy of Bile: since his
Return into England he has had that Complaint
less frequent & less severe; but has been
more subject to ye Gout; partic↑ul↑arly 3 years
ago he had a severe fit. since that time
he has had several fits but none continug.
more than two or 3 days with Violence &
Inflammation, often teazing him a week
or more with slight Pains so as to render
Walking disagreeable & oftentimes painful:
in this State he has continued nearly two
[Page 2]
Years, & finding himself rather emaciated
he took a Ride to Beverly to consult me
I found him exceedingly relaxed that is of a
loose fibre, & his Legs œdamatous which
he has always considered as ye Consequence
of ye Gout. I recommended Tonics, Exercise
in a Chaise & on Horseback, with gently
opening Medicines. This is abt 3 weeks
ago I heard no more from him before
this Day; when I found him nearly as follows.
His Pulse about 90 constantly not less than
that at any time weak & hard.
His Legs, Thighs, Scrotum enormously
swelled, shining & pasty. his body not swelled
yet nor any hardness or Swelling about ye
Liver or elsewhere. his face, Breast Arms
much thinner, with a pale & yellowish Complexion
more pale than yellow. White of his Eyes very
clear. Urine in tolerable Quantities no
[Page 3]
Scarcity, but exceedingly limpid. Thirst
has been great, which he has indulged to a
great degree from some Observs. he reade in Dr
Home 1 & Dr Milman 2 on ye Dropsy, but the thirst
has not been great these 2 last days. Dyspnœa
great on ye least motion which is only from ye
bed to ye Chair & back, &c
There seems a perfect Anasarca, it even
affects his Brain from his constant drowsiness
short interrupted Sleeps & Starts & his
having chided his Son from giving
him red Ink instead of black which
was in truth black. His body is gently
open. he is afraid of drastics on account of ye
Piles, he seems to be determined against any
thing of this kind. I am I form a most un¬
favorable Prognosis, & am truly sorry for his
Situation The above is an exact State of his
present State which I thought better to relate
than to hazard any conjecture of my own. I
only wish from this that you may be able to think
of something to his advantage. I recommended
[Page 4]
a gentle dose of Physic & some tonics and ye Seneka
The distressed family begs your Assistance by ye
first Post. I must now thank you for ye first
Rudiments in Physic which I recd from you 14 years
ago much to my Advantage & am most thankfully
your most
p 79.
His ↑right↑ Knees are (↑is↑) now red & painful yesterday
ye Top of his foot was so, which he thinks is gouty.
He is also troubled with spasms & cramp in bed.
On Sunday his Scrotum was punctured & blisters applied
just below ye Knee. They have discharged & do so now plenti¬
fully & have abated some symptoms upwards.
Doctor Cullen
Edinburgh
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