The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:2475] From: Reverend Thomas Gordon (of Speymouth) / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Reverend Thomas Gordon (of Speymouth) (Patient) / 23 June 1784 / (Incoming)
Letter from Thomas Gordon, concerning his own case.
- 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 | 2475 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/1528 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Incoming |
| Date | 23 June 1784 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Scribal copy ( includes Casebook Entry) |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Letter from Thomas Gordon, concerning his own case. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1704] |
Case of the Revd. Gordon who is very weak and distressed by an advanced chest condition for which he is prescribed Laudanam. |
8 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:2921] | Author | Reverend Thomas Gordon (of Speymouth) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Addressee | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:2921] | Patient | Reverend Thomas Gordon (of Speymouth) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:820] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr Thomas Stephen |
Places linked to this document
| Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Writing | Speymouth | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Destination of Letter | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | inferred | |
| Mentioned / Other | Elgin | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
Speymouth 23d. June 1784
Sr
I have been for four and twenty hours that I would
not renew life upon such conditions In this case, to whom
shall I apply, but to the man so eminently distinguished
for his generosity and medical talents?
Since stating my case to you, it hath undergone a very
great change. Instead of the pain in the breast which by
the help of your prescriptions I imagine considerably
abated in acuteness and seldom returned I have been attacked
with a violent oppression of breathing, which still continues
and increases, so that I suffer under that oppression a
perfect convulsion fit. This oppression his often in the
breast, without the former acute pain, and agitates the
whole so that I would think it were rising to my mouth.
- often in my belly which heaves immensely and becomes
hard.
The four and twenty hours of [inexpressible?] distress I
mention above, was a complication of both, and I
[Page 2]
I called for the nearest assistance Doctor Stephen
from Elgin who applied a blister and gave me some
drops, besides Laudanum I which I have used again
and again without any effect but rendering me more
restless. The blister laid upon the center of my breast
wrought pretty well but produced another effect which
had well right distressed me, a violent strangury which
after eighteen hours is not wholly abated. It produced
likewise a good degree of tenesmus -- as a blister never
fails with me to do both which perfectly frightens
me at them. With a long course of wrestling, and
violently throwing up wind, which I would humbly
suggest as a capital evil in my constitution. I have got
a stitch in the opening just above my left thigh bone
so that if I am obliged to Cough it pierces me to the
very heart. Stomach quite gone.
I should be sorry to think that my this further interesting
upon you should be considered as merely the effect of
your former generosity. I act from a very different
[Page 3]
principle. And I can have no doubt but it will
be a qualification to one of Doctor Cullen's character
to contribute if it were but to the care, much more to
the recovery of one whose life may not be wholly
useless. I have the honour to be with high
esteem your most obliged and most obedient
humble servant
Thos. Gordon
Dr. Cullen
I am obliged to write with a borrowed hand
Diplomatic Text
Speymouth 23d. June 1784
Sr
I have been for four and twenty hours that I would
not renew life upon such conditions In this case, to whom
shall I apply, but to the man so eminently distinguished
for his generosity and medical talents?
Since stating my case to you, it hath undergone a very
great change. Instead of the pain in the breast which by
the help of your prescriptions I imagine considerably
abated in acuteness and seldom returned I have been attacked
with a violent oppression of breathing, which still continues
and increases, so that I suffer under that oppression a
perfect convulsion fit. This oppression his often in the
breast, without the former acute pain, and agitates the
whole so that I would think it were rising to my mouth.
- often in my belly which heaves immensely and becomes
hard.
The four and twenty hours of [inexpressible?] distress I
mention above, was a complication of both, and I
[Page 2]
I called for the nearest assistance Doctor Stephen
from Elgin who applied a blister and gave me some
drops, besides Laudanum I which I have used again
and again without any effect but rendering me more
restless. The blister laid upon the center of my breast
wrought pretty well but produced another effect which
had well right distressed me, a violent strangury which
after eighteen hours is not wholly abated. It produced
likewise a good degree of tenesmus -- as a blister never
fails with me to do both which perfectly frightens
me at them. With a long course of wrestling, and
violently throwing up wind, which I would humbly
suggest as a capital evil in my constitution. I have got
a stitch in the opening just above my left thigh bone
so that if I am obliged to Cough it pierces me to the
very heart. Stomach quite gone.
I should be sorry to think that my this further interesting
upon you should be considered as merely the effect of
your former generosity. I act from a very different
[Page 3]
principle. And I can have no doubt but it will
be a qualification to one of Doctor Cullen's character
to contribute if it were but to the care, much more to
the recovery of one whose life may not be wholly
useless. I have the honour to be with high
esteem your most obliged and most obedt.
humble servt.
Thos. Gordon
Dr. Cullen
I am obliged to write with a borrowed hand
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