The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:276] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Mr Joseph Harris / Regarding: Mrs Ponsonby (of Egremont) (Patient) / 24 February 1782 / (Outgoing)
Reply [to Joseph Harris], with directions for Mrs Ponsonby, following account communicated by Dr [Richard] Dixon; Cullen suspects a dangerous 'schirrosity of the uterus' and suggest trying Circuta, and, f that fails,Belladona.
- 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 | 276 |
RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/14/165 |
Main Language | English |
Document Direction | Outgoing |
Date | 24 February 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 [to Joseph Harris], with directions for Mrs Ponsonby, following account communicated by Dr [Richard] Dixon; Cullen suspects a dangerous 'schirrosity of the uterus' and suggest trying Circuta, and, f that fails,Belladona. |
Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
---|---|---|
[Case ID:1490] |
Case of Mrs Ponsonby who has a uterine disorder (reported by Dr Dixon). |
2 |
People linked to this document
Person ID | Role in document | Person |
---|---|---|
[PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
[PERS ID:214] | Addressee | Mr Joseph Harris |
[PERS ID:2730] | Patient | Mrs Ponsonby (of Egremont) |
[PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
[PERS ID:214] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Mr Joseph Harris |
[PERS ID:2728] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr Richard Dixon (Dickson) |
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 | Whitehaven | North-West | England | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
For Mrs Ponsonby
I have with great attention perused the full
and judicious account of this Lady's case communica¬
ted by Dr Dixon, and am sorry to find it a very in¬
favourable one; not only from its symptoms but from
this also that it has already bafled a very Skillfull and
judicious treatment.
I am persuded that the disease is a Schirrosity of
the uterus
which presses on one hand upon the bladder and on the
other upon the rectum, and the pains which so
so frequently distress her in a particular direction and
the nature of the present discharge give great reason
to the fear that the parts within are in a bad State.
The discharge at its first appearance was not Such
as commonly attendes a Schirrosity but I have met with
it several times in Such cases. After giving this
opinion of the nature of the disease I need not say
again that it is unfavorable & must be difficult to
[Page 2]
cure but at the Same time I hope the case is not despe¬
rate but may be greatly relieved. I think the use of
the Extractum cicutæ is extremly proper and if it Shall
give a proof of its being properly prepared by its having
Sensible effects on the Lady I hope its continuance will
be of Service to her and I have had one instance of a very
diseased uterus entirely cured by the cicuta. But I must
observe that I have long found the extract an uncertain
preparation and therefore in this case if the extract does
not in moderate doses that is in less than a Scruple Shew
Sensible effects I would have it laid aside and a properly
dried powder of the leaves employed in its place. If
either the extract or powder while they Shew sensible
effects on the Ladys Nerves do not in the course of two
or three weeks give also relief to her pains and mend
the appearance of the discharge from the vagina I
would doubt of the cicuta's promising a remedy and
would then try one which I have found effectual when
[Page 3]
the cicuta failed. This is the infusion of the leaves of the
Belladonna beginning with a dose of one grain infused but
advancing the dose pretty boldly till it Shews sensible effects.
While either the Cicuta or this is employed I hold it to
be very necessary to prevent as much as possible the retention
of acrid matter in the uterus and vagina and for this pur¬
pose to inject into the vagina with a proper Syringe
once or twice a day an infusion of dried roses not very
Strong but with two ounces of Syr. e ros. Sicc. to every
pound of Infusion, and to the Same quantity an ounce
or two of brandy if this is not found to give irritation.
To the Same infusion once or twice a week may be added
a dram of the leaves of the cicuta or more if it is found
not to affect the nerves very Strongly which it is something
found to do when applied to ulcerated parts. These are
the remedies which I hope may be employed with advan¬
tage but as they do not commonly give any immediate
relief I am clear that the employment of opiates and
with these the Oleum ricini as judiciously advised by
Dr Dixon will be absolutely necessary.
[Page 4]
With respect to Mrs Ponsonby's diet I have nothing
now to offer as it appears to be very judiciously ordered
at present, for, I am certain that it ought to be light
and cooling.
William Cullen
Edinburgh 24th. February
1782. --
Diplomatic Text
For Mrs Ponsonby
I have with great attention perused the full
and judicious account of this Lady's case communica¬
ted by Dr Dixon, and am sorry to find it a very in¬
favourable one; not only from its symptoms but from
this also that it has already bafled a very Skillfull and
judicious treatment.
I am persuded that the disease is a Schirrosity of
the uterus
which presses on one hand upon the bladder and on the
other upon the rectum, and the pains which so
so frequently distress her in a particular direction and
the nature of the present discharge give great reason
to the fear that the parts within are in a bad State.
The discharge at its first appearance was not Such
as commonly attendes a Schirrosity but I have met with
it several times in Such cases. After giving this
opinion of the nature of the disease I need not say
again that it is unfavorable & must be difficult to
[Page 2]
cure but at the Same time I hope the case is not despe¬
rate but may be greatly relieved. I think the use of
the Extractum cicutæ is extremly proper and if it Shall
give a proof of its being properly prepared by its having
Sensible effects on the Lady I hope its continuance will
be of Service to her and I have had one instance of a very
diseased uterus entirely cured by the cicuta. But I must
observe that I have long found the extract an uncertain
preparation and therefore in this case if the extract does
not in moderate doses that is in less than a Scruple Shew
Sensible effects I would have it laid aside and a properly
dried powder of the leaves employed in its place. If
either the extract or powder while they Shew sensible
effects on the Ladys Nerves do not in the course of two
or three weeks give also relief to her pains and mend
the appearance of the discharge from the vagina I
would doubt of the cicuta's promising a remedy and
would then try one which I have found effectual when
[Page 3]
the cicuta failed. This is the infusion of the leaves of the
Belladonna beginning with a dose of one grain infused but
advancing the dose pretty boldly till it Shews sensible effects.
While either the Cicuta or this is employed I hold it to
be very necessary to prevent as much as possible the retention
of acrid matter in the uterus and vagina and for this pur¬
pose to inject into the vagina with a proper Syringe
once or twice a day an infusion of dried roses not very
Strong but with two ounces of Syr. e ros. Sicc. to every
pound of Infusion, and to the Same quantity an ounce
or two of brandy if this is not found to give irritation.
To the Same infusion once or twice a week may be added
a dram of the leaves of the cicuta or more if it is found
not to affect the nerves very Strongly which it is something
found to do when applied to ulcerated parts. These are
the remedies which I hope may be employed with advan¬
tage but as they do not commonly give any immediate
relief I am clear that the employment of opiates and
with these the Oleum ricini as judiciously advised by
Dr Dixon will be absolutely necessary.
[Page 4]
With respect to Mrs Ponsonby's diet I have nothing
now to offer as it appears to be very judiciously ordered
at present, for, I am certain that it ought to be light
and cooling.
William Cullen
Edinr. 24th. Febry.
1782. --
XML
XML file not yet available.
Feedback
Send us specfic feeback about this document [DOC ID:276]
Please note that the Cullen Project team have now disbanded but your comments will be logged in our system and we will look at them one day...