The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:2702] From: Dr James Currie / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Mrs Frances Johnstone (Colquitt) (Fann(e)y; Johnston, of Hawkhill) (Patient) / 12 September 1785 / (Incoming)
Letter from Dr James Currie concerning the case of Mrs Johnstone, the wife of Captain Gideon Johnstone of Hawkhill, who 'is now, or has lately been, your patient'. Mrs Johnstone's relations at Liverpool are perturbed at news that she has been insane for some time when their last communication with her suggested nothing was wrong with her.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 4 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
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[Page 4]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 2702 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/1744 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Incoming |
| Date | 12 September 1785 |
| 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 James Currie concerning the case of Mrs Johnstone, the wife of Captain Gideon Johnstone of Hawkhill, who 'is now, or has lately been, your patient'. Mrs Johnstone's relations at Liverpool are perturbed at news that she has been insane for some time when their last communication with her suggested nothing was wrong with her. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | Yes |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1692] |
Case of Mrs Johnston [Johnstone] of Hawkhill who has been reported as being insane. |
5 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:468] | Author | Dr James Currie |
| [PERS ID:1] | Addressee | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:1291] | Patient | Mrs Frances Johnstone (Fann(e)y; Johnston, of Hawkhill) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:468] | Other Physician / Surgeon | Dr James Currie |
| [PERS ID:196] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Captain Gideon Johnstone (Johnston, Johnson; of Hawkhill) |
Places linked to this document
| Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Writing | Liverpool | North-West | England | Europe | certain | |
| Destination of Letter | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Place of Handstamp | Liverpool | North-West | England | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
It is at the desire of some near relations of
Mrs Johnstone, who are particular friends of mine, that
I use the freedom of troubling you with this letter;
the object of which is to request that you will fa¬
vour me by return of post with some account of
her unhappy This lady is the wife
of Captain
Gideon Johnstone at Hawkshill, & is now, or has
lately been your patient
I received a
letter from her husband yes¬
terday, mentioning your attendance on her in terms of
much respect & regretting that the best skill and
abilities have been exerted in vain He says
that she has been for several months absolutely
insane & that as her life is dispaired of, he desires
me to prepare her relations here for the accounts
of her death.
Having communicated this intelligence
to some of the parties concerned, they received it with
deep concern & with great surprise. This
arises chiefly from their never having had the
[Page 2]
least intimation of this matter before, & from their
having received, since the date of her insanity,
letters from her which have all the marks of
a sound mind. These circumstances are not
explained in Captain Johnstone's letter which is evident¬
ly written under the hurry & perturbation, which
so distressful a subject might naturally be sup¬
posed to produce, in one weakened by long sickness
& much anxiety. Being unwilling to trouble
him any farther ↑in his weak state↑, they therefore apply thro' me
to you, requesting that you will have the
goodness to transmit some account of her real
situation ... and, - thro' motives of delicacy
they are particularly desirous that this applica¬
tion should not be known to Captain Johnstone.
It concerns me to encroach on the time
devoted to such useful purposes, but I could
not on this ocassion refuse ↑to transmit↑ the request of
some of my best friends, & your complying
with it will be laying me under a new
obligation
I shall at
[Page 3]
all times rejoice to hear of your health &
happiness, & I remain
with great respect & regard,
Dear Sir
your obedient & affectionate Servant
[Page 4]
Dr. William Cullen
Edinburgh
Dr Currie
Concerning Mrs. Johnstone
September 1785
V. xvii p.260
Diplomatic Text
It is at the desire of some near relations of
Mrs Johnstone, who are particular friends of mine, that
I use the freedom of troubling you with this letter;
the object of which is to request that you will fa¬
vour me by return of post with some account of
her unhappy This lady is the wife
of Capt
Gideon Johnstone at Hawkshill, & is now, or has
lately been your patient
I recd a
letter from her husband yes¬
terday, mentioning your attendance on her in terms of
much respect & regretting that the best skill and
abilities have been exerted in vain He says
that she has been for several months absolutely
insane & that as her life is dispaired of, he desires
me to prepare her relations here for the accounts
of her death.
Having communicated this intelligence
to some of the parties concerned, they received it with
deep concern & with great surprise. This
arises chiefly from their never having had the
[Page 2]
least intimation of this matter before, & from their
having received, since the date of her insanity,
letters from her which have all the marks of
a sound mind. These circumstances are not
explained in Capt Johnstone's letter which is evident¬
ly written under the hurry & perturbation, which
so distressful a subject might naturally be sup¬
posed to produce, in one weakened by long sickness
& much anxiety. Being unwilling to trouble
him any farther ↑in his weak state↑, they therefore apply thro' me
to you, requesting that you will have the
goodness to transmit some account of her real
situation ... and, - thro' motives of delicacy
they are particularly desirous that this applica¬
tion should not be known to Capt Johnstone.
It concerns me to encroach on the time
devoted to such useful purposes, but I could
not on this ocassion refuse ↑to transmit↑ the request of
some of my best friends, & your complying
with it will be laying me under a new
obligation
I shall at
[Page 3]
all times rejoice to hear of your health &
happiness, & I remain
with great respect & regard,
Dear Sir
your obed t. & affect. Servant
[Page 4]
Dr. William Cullen
Edinburgh
Dr Currie
C Mrs. Johnstone
Sepr 1785
V. xvii p.260
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