The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:2558] From: Dr John Govan (Gowan) / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Mr Alexander Mayes (Patient) / 2 February 1785 / (Incoming)
Letter from John Govan, concerning the case of Mr Mayes from the West Indies, who will deliver the letter in person.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 4 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
[Page 3]
[Page 4]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 2558 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/1607 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Incoming |
| Date | 2 February 1785 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Authorial original |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | Yes |
| Case Note | Yes |
| Summary | Letter from John Govan, concerning the case of Mr Mayes from the West Indies, who will deliver the letter in person. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1781] |
Case of Mr Alexander Mayes on a visit from the West Indies who has a skin condition. |
3 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:678] | Author | Dr John Govan (Gowan) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Addressee | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:3408] | Patient | Mr Alexander Mayes |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:678] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr John Govan (Gowan) |
| [PERS ID:3409] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Mr Smith |
Places linked to this document
| Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Writing | Cupar (Coupar / Coupar of Fife) | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Destination of Letter | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Mentioned / Other | West Indies | certain | ||||
| Mentioned / Other | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Mentioned / Other | Elie (Ely) | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
The bearer of this, Mr Mayes
from the west-indies, has been my patient
for some time past for the care of a cutaneous
disorder, & now goes to Edinburgh for your advice
I beg leave to refer you to himself for an ac¬
count of the progress of his disorder, & of the
means used for his relief, previous to his
coming under my care, about the middle of
September last- I have thought it might not
be necessary to give you a short account
of what has been attempted for his cure since
that time by Mr. Smith Surgeon at Ely, by
[Page 2]
my direction- After venesection & the use of
a dose or two of a cooling solution of Sal: Polychrest
or Tartar Solubil an alterative course of corrosive
sublimate first, & afterwards of Pil: Plummer:
assisted by tepid bathing & the liberal use of
the Decoction of Sarsaparilla was recommended, with a suit¬
able regimen, & persisted in for six weeks-
Finding then no appearance of benefit; the
medecine appearing to heat him & ruffle his
bowels, I determined to try the external ap¬
plication of mercury. an ounce and a half of Unguent of Mercury was
directed to be rubbed into his legs & arms
every night before the fire, & a strong Decoction of Mezereon
or Bardan: to be drank to the quantity of lbij
in the 24 hours- It was a considerable time before
the salivary glands seemed affected, but as soon as
[Page 3]
as they were, he was desired to discontinue the
unction, persisting in the use of the decoction,
untill the affection of the mouth went off, when
he immediately resumed the use of the friction.
in this manner he continued from the end of October
till the middle of January But I am sorry to say
that notwithstanding his most scrupulous ad¬
herence to directions both with regard to medecine
& regimen, not the smallest shadow of benefit
has been obtained- He now goes to Edinburgh to
have your opinion on his case, & I most heartily
wish that he may derive more advantage from
your assistance than he has done from that
of
Dear Sir
your most obedient
& very faithfull humble Servt.
[Page 4]
Dr. William Cullen
Physician in
Edinburgh
Mr John Govan
Concerning Mr Mayes
February 1785
V. XVII P. 17
Diplomatic Text
The bearer of this, Mr Mayes
from the west-indies, has been my patient
for some time past for the care of a cutaneous
disorder, & now goes to Edinr. for your advice
I beg leave to refer you to himself for an ac¬
count of the progress of his disorder, & of the
means used for his relief, previous to his
coming under my care, about the middle of
Septr. last- I have thought it might not
be necessary to give you a short account
of what has been attempted for his cure since
that time by Mr. Smith Surgeon at Ely, by
[Page 2]
my direction- After venesection & the use of
a dose or two of a cooling solution of Sal: Polychrest
or Tart: Solub: an alterative course of corrosive
sublimate first, & afterwards of Pil: Plummer:
assisted by tepid bathing & the liberal use of
the Decoct: Sarsap was recommended, with a suit¬
able regimen, & persisted in for six weeks-
Finding then no appearance of benefit; the
medecine appearing to heat him & ruffle his
bowels, I determined to try the external ap¬
plication of mercury. Ungt. Merc: [fat.?] ℥iſs was
directed to be rubbed into his legs & arms
every night before the fire, & a strong Decoct: Mezer
or Bardan: to be drank to the quantity of lbij
in the 24 hours- It was a considerable time before
the salivary glands seemed affected, but as soon as
[Page 3]
as they were, he was desired to discontinue the
unction, persisting in the use of the decoction,
untill the affection of the mouth went off, when
he immediately resumed the use of the friction.
in this manner he continued from the end of Octr.
till the middle of Janry But I am sorry to say
that notwithstanding his most scrupulous ad¬
herence to directions both with regard to medecine
& regimen, not the smallest shadow of benefit
has been obtained- He now goes to Edinr to
have your opinion on his case, & I most heartily
wish that he may derive more advantage from
your assistance than he has done from that
of
Dr. Sir
your most obedt.
& very faithfull humble Servt.
[Page 4]
Dr. William Cullen
Physician in
Edinr.
Mr John Govan
C. Mr Mayes
Feby. 1785
V. XVII P. 17
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