The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:259] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: [ADDRESSEE UNKNOWN] / Regarding: Reverend Simon Strickland (Mr Strickland; of Catterick and Tunstall) (Patient) / 26 January 1782 / (Outgoing)
Reply 'For J. S. Esqr' identifiable from Cullen's own cross-reference on the incoming case document as Mr Strickland, a Catholic priest suffering from gout.
- 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 | 259 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/14/145 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 26 January 1782 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Machine copy |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply 'For J. S. Esqr' identifiable from Cullen's own cross-reference on the incoming case document as Mr Strickland, a Catholic priest suffering from gout. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1485] |
Case of Mr Strickland, a Catholic priest, who first became ill from gout and stomach complaints after he inherited his brother's estate and started to indulge in high living. |
3 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:5061] | Patient | Reverend Simon Strickland (Mr Strickland; of Catterick and Tunstall) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
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 |
| Destination of Letter | London | London and South-East | England | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
For J. S. Esq.r
I am sorry to observe that this gentlemans dis¬
ease is too evident while it is a very bad one. He has
evidently got both Gout and Gravel: which are diseases
not to be entirely cured when they have got hold of the
constitution. I am [howe]ver certain that they can
be greatly relieved when we find patients sufficiently
pliable. In this case it appears that the present
bad state of the disease has been brought on by intem¬
perance and I am afraid that habits of that kind still
continue. I must therefore lay it down as a funda¬
mental point that unless these habits are changed
every other measure that can be proposed will be to
very little purpose. As to the manner of changing
these habits I must leave it to the gentlemen upon the
Spot who know the patients habits more exactly than
I do to direct his conduct in this respect and I have
[Page 1]
only to say that he should be brought to a temperate use
of all strong drink very soon but not very abruptly
or suddenly nor perhaps entirely.
When this is done or going on the first remedy
I would propose is the use of lime water which he may
begin by degrees, but should come soon to take at least
a quart every day, or if he agrees with it very well, to
two quarts. His present open belly is not to be stopt,
and if the lime water should seem to do it, let him
be kept regular by the use of an aloetic, and if this
brings back the bleeding of the piles, he may be much
the better for it, if moderate.
For the distressing vomiting which he is liable to
let him take every day about half an hour before dinner
from ten to twenty grains of the powder of the Columbo
root. The only other tonic remedy I can recommend
is the rust of steel with a little powdered cinnamon
He may begin with five grains of the rubigo twice a day
[Page 2]
but should by degrees increase the dose to twenty grains twice
a day. The tonic remedy which above all others would
be the most serviceable and without which he cannot recover
is Exercise and fresh Air. Walking and riding however
is what he will not be able for nor will easily bear and
the only exercise he will bear is going in a carriage. Even
this may increase his bloody urine unless ↑it↑ is taken in
an easy carriage and on very smooth road but fresh
air & gentle motions is so absolutely necessary to him that
the greatest pains should be taken to procure it in
the manner he can bear it.
The management of his diet is to be studied but
I offer no particular directions both because the present
state of his appetite and digestion may not admit of [any?]
nice limitations and what may be admitted can only
be judged of by proper trials. Some animal food is ne¬
cessary and much acescent vegetables from the garden
might be very hurtfull
Diplomatic Text
For J. S. Esq.r
I am sorry to observe that this gentlemans dis¬
ease is too evident while it is a very bad one. He has
evidently got both Gout and Gravel: which are diseases
not to be entirely cured when they have got hold of the
constitution. I am [howe]ver certain that they can
be greatly relieved when we find patients sufficiently
pliable. In this case it appears that the present
bad state of the disease has been brought on by intem¬
perance and I am afraid that habits of that kind still
continue. I must therefore lay it down as a funda¬
mental point that unless these habits are changed
every other measure that can be proposed will be to
very little purpose. As to the manner of changing
these habits I must leave it to the gentlemen upon the
Spot who know the patients habits more exactly than
I do to direct his conduct in this respect and I have
[Page 1]
only to say that he should be brought to a temperate use
of all strong drink very soon but not very abruptly
or suddenly nor perhaps entirely.
When this is done or going on the first remedy
I would propose is the use of lime water which he may
begin by degrees, but should come soon to take at least
a quart every day, or if he agrees with it very well, to
two quarts. His present open belly is not to be stopt,
and if the lime water should seem to do it, let him
be kept regular by the use of an aloetic, and if this
brings back the bleeding of the piles, he may be much
the better for it, if moderate.
For the distressing vomiting which he is liable to
let him take every day about half an hour before dinner
from ten to twenty grains of the powder of the Columbo
root. The only other tonic remedy I can recommend
is the rust of steel with a little powdered cinnamon
He may begin with five grains of the rubigo twice a day
[Page 2]
but should by degrees increase the dose to twenty grains twice
a day. The tonic remedy which above all others would
be the most serviceable and without which he cannot recover
is Exercise and fresh Air. Walking and riding however
is what he will not be able for nor will easily bear and
the only exercise he will bear is going in a carriage. Even
this may increase his bloody urine unless ↑it↑ is taken in
an easy carriage and on very smooth road but fresh
air & gentle motions is so absolutely necessary to him that
the greatest pains should be taken to procure it in
the manner he can bear it.
The management of his diet is to be studied but
I offer no particular directions both because the present
state of his appetite and digestion may not admit of [any?]
nice limitations and what may be admitted can only
be judged of by proper trials. Some animal food is ne¬
cessary and much acescent vegetables from the garden
might be very hurtfull
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