The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:2757] From: Mr James McNab / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Mr Henry Ivie-Nicolson (Ivie) (Nicolson of Glenbervie) (Patient) / 28 January 1786 / (Incoming)
Letter from James McNab, in Waterford, concerning Mr Nicolson of Glenbervie, who consulted Cullen 'about the 22d. of July last, about a complaint in his side & shoulder which was brought on by a severe Rheumatic attack', and has been living in the area since August. He now complains of a dimness in the eye of the side affected. McNab has treated him with electricity, but believes that the patient did not give it a fair trial and should have persevered with it.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 4 images for this document.
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Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 2757 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/1796 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Incoming |
| Date | 28 January 1786 |
| 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 James McNab, in Waterford, concerning Mr Nicolson of Glenbervie, who consulted Cullen 'about the 22d. of July last, about a complaint in his side & shoulder which was brought on by a severe Rheumatic attack', and has been living in the area since August. He now complains of a dimness in the eye of the side affected. McNab has treated him with electricity, but believes that the patient did not give it a fair trial and should have persevered with it. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:2555] |
Case of Henry Ivie-Nicolson of Glenbervie (attended by physicians in Waterford), who has a suspected paralytic complaint and 'dimness of sight' all of which Cullen considers 'nervous' and for which the patient undertakes electrical treatment. |
7 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:2807] | Author | Mr James McNab |
| [PERS ID:1] | Addressee | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:5787] | Patient | Mr Henry Ivie-Nicolson (Nicolson of Glenbervie) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:2807] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Mr James McNab |
Places linked to this document
| Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Writing | Waterford | South Ireland | Ireland | Europe | certain | |
| Destination of Letter | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Mentioned / Other | Glenbervie (AKA Ardit, Airdit) | Kirkcaldy | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
Mr. Nicolson of Glenbervie who consulted
you about the 22d. of July last, about a com¬
plaint in his Side and Shoulder which was
brought on by a severe Rheumatic Attack,
Came to this part of the World in August
of September last. He consulted me about
the beginning of November. He complain'd very
much of his Side and Shoulder; but what
gave him most uneasiness was a very
great dimness in the Eye of the Side affected.
The Eye looks as well as the other. I con¬
cluded his complaints to be totally nervous.
As you mention'd Dover's powders in your
directions to him, I gave them a fair trial
for several days without the smallest benefit.
I afterwards gave him one Grain of Flor. Zinc.
[Page 2]
every twelve hours, & encreas'd each dose
by degrees to four Grains, but with equal
bad Success. He afterwards took bark with Rust
of Iron, but by no means gave it a fair
trial. I afterwards strongly recommended
Electricity to him, to which he Readily con¬
sented. He was Insulated Six or Seven times
& had Sparks drawn from his Side &
Shoulder ↑for↑ Six or Seven Minutes each time.
I drew the fluid with a Wooden point from
the ball of the Eye Affected for a short time
each night for Six or Seven Nights, but
all to no purpose. I am very confident
however, that he did not give Electricity by
any means a fair trial, & I think it
probable that had he persevered in its
application for five or Six weeks
[Page 3]
he would have had much better success.
He has a Regular Motion every day. His pulse
are perfectly good, though he is as low Spiritd
as possible. He begs to have your Opinion
as soon as possible and what ever directions
you are pleas'd to Send him, shall be re¬
gularly put in practice by.
Sir
Your very Obedient Humble
Servant
Waterford
January 28th
1786
[Page 4]
Doctor Cullen
Edinburgh
Mr. Macnab
Concerning Mr. Nicolson of Glenbervie
January 1786
V. XVIII. p. 35.
Diplomatic Text
Mr. Nicolson of Glenbervie who consulted
you about the 22d. of July last, about a com¬
plaint in his Side and Shoulder which was
brought on by a severe Rheumatic Attack,
Came to this part of the World in August
of Septr. last. He consulted me about
the beginning of Novr.. He complain'd very
much of his Side and Shoulder; but what
gave him most uneasiness was a very
great dimness in the Eye of the Side affected.
The Eye looks as well as the other. I con¬
cluded his complaints to be totally nervous.
As you mention'd Dover's powders in your
directions to him, I gave them a fair trial
for several days without the smallest benefit.
I afterwards gave him one Grain of Flor. Zinc.
[Page 2]
every twelve hours, & encreas'd each dose
by degrees to four Grs., but with equal
bad Success. He afterwards took bark with Rust
of Iron, but by no means gave it a fair
trial. I afterwards strongly recommended
Electricity to him, to which he Readily con¬
sented. He was Insulated Six or Seven times
& had Sparks drawn from his Side &
Shoulder ↑for↑ Six or Seven Minutes each time.
I drew the fluid with a Wooden point from
the ball of the Eye Affected for a short time
each night for Six or Seven Nights, but
all to no purpose. I am very confident
however, that he did not give Electricity by
any means a fair trial, & I think it
probable that had he persevered in its
application for five or Six weeks
[Page 3]
he would have had much better success.
He has a Regular Motion every day. His pulse
are perfectly good, though he is as low Spiritd
as possible. He begs to have your Opinion
as soon as possible and what ever directions
you are pleas'd to Send him, shall be re¬
gularly put in practice by.
Sir
Your very Obedt. Humble
Servant
Waterford
January 28th
1786
[Page 4]
Doctor Cullen
Edinburgh
Mr. Macnab
C. Mr. Nicolson of Glenbervie
Jany 1786
V. XVIII. p. 35.
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