The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:2792] From: Mr James McNab / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Mr Henry Ivie-Nicolson (Ivie) (Nicolson of Glenbervie) (Patient) / 6 April 1786 / (Incoming)
Letter from James McNab, concerning Mr Nicolson of Glenbervie, whose case he believes to be nervous, and who is no better. He has applied further electrical treatments, and prescribed some medicines, for which he gives the recipes. He has tried a seton in the neck, but this is to be removed.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 4 images for this document.
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[Page 2]
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Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 2792 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/1831 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Incoming |
| Date | 6 April 1786 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Authorial original |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | Yes |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Letter from James McNab, concerning Mr Nicolson of Glenbervie, whose case he believes to be nervous, and who is no better. He has applied further electrical treatments, and prescribed some medicines, for which he gives the recipes. He has tried a seton in the neck, but this is to be removed. |
| 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 | inferred | |
| Mentioned / Other | Glenbervie (AKA Ardit, Airdit) | Kirkcaldy | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
I received the honour of your letter of the
16th. last February concerning Mr. Nicolson of
Glenbervie, who am sorry to say is by no means
better. On the fifth day of March last he came
to town in order to give Electricity a fair trial.
I sent very gently Shocks from his Shoulder
downwards through his Arm and Side. They
were very Moderate but frequently Repeated, &
continued for upwards of five Minutes at
each sitting. I drew the Electricity through
his Eye, and took several Sparks of Moderate
force from the ball while he was insulated.
This practice I uniformly continued twice
every day from the fifth to the Nineteenth
some days his feelings were better, particular¬
ly after the Electricity, and at other times, he
was not sensible of any Amendment.
[Page 2]
When the pain in his Shoulder & Side is better
he thinks his Eye-Sight better, but in general
the dimness in his Eye is rather worse than
better, & the Affection of his Shoulder & Side much
the same. On the 25th. of March I had a
Seton made in his Neck, & prescribed the
following pill.
Take two drachms of Mercurial Laxative pills from the Edinburgh Pharmacopœia and divide into twenty-four equal pills. One to be taken in the morning, afternoon and evening.
As I did not find him
benefit in the least by the pills, I did not
repeat them, and shall take the Seton out
of his Neck for the same Reason. His pulse
are perfectly good, and his Appetite tolerable.
The state of his belly is natural, having
generally one or two Motions in the twenty
four Hours. He took the Solution of Guaiacum
with a double portion of the Volatile Elixir of Guaiacum
for three Weeks since my last letter, and
has now discontinued it. As I am perfectly
[Page 3]
satisfied that his Nerves are deeply Affected &
that all his Complaints are of the Nervous kind,
I order'd him the following Medicine.
Take four ounces of Peruvian Bark Tincture (Huxham's), and two drachms each of Volatile Tincture of Valerian and Volatile Tincture of Guaiacum. Mix.
Of this Medicine I directed him to take one
tablespoonfull in two spoonfull of
Water ↑every day↑ one hour before breakfast, & two
hours before dinner. I have this day sent
him home to the Country, after recommending
constant & Moderate exercise, cheerful company
company, and a cheerful Glass of Wine.
I directed him to drink a pint of port or a
bottle of good sound old Claret every day,
and to avoid transacting every kind of
intricate business as much as possible.
I thought to order him Bark & Steel
in Substance, but have defer'd it till In
expectation of hearing from you soon.
[Page 4]
Any directions you are pleas'd to give
shall be compliant regularly followed.
I have the honour to be.
Sir
Your Very Obedt.Obedient Servant
Mr. Macnab
Concerning Mr. Nicolson
April 1786
V. XVIII. P. 95
Diplomatic Text
I received the honour of your letter of the
16th. last February concerning Mr. Nicolson of
Glenbervie, who am sorry to say is by no means
better. On the fifth day of March last he came
to town in order to give Electricity a fair trial.
I sent very gently Shocks from his Shoulder
downwards through his Arm and Side. They
were very Moderate but frequently Repeated, &
continued for upwards of five Minutes at
each sitting. I drew the Electricity through
his Eye, and took several Sparks of Moderate
force from the ball while he was insulated.
This practice I uniformly continued twice
every day from the fifth to the Nineteenth
some days his feelings were better, particular¬
ly after the Electricity, and at other times, he
was not sensible of any Amendment.
[Page 2]
When the pain in his Shoulder & Side is better
he thinks his Eye-Sight better, but in general
the dimness in his Eye is rather worse than
better, & the Affection of his Shoulder & Side much
the same. On the 25th. of March I had a
Seton made in his Neck, & prescribed the
following pill.
℞ pilul. Mercurial: Laxant
(pharmacop. Edinburg:) drach. duas divide
in pilulas xxiv Equales. Capt. unam mane,
meridie & Vesperi.
As I did not find him
benefit in the least by the pills, I did not
repeat them, and shall take the Seton out
of his Neck for the same Reason. His pulse
are perfectly good, and his Appetite tolerable.
The state of his belly is natural, having
generally one or two Motions in the twenty
four Hours. He took the Solution of Guaiacum
with a double portion of the Elixr. Guajac: Volat.
for three Weeks since my last letter, and
has now discontinued it. As I am perfectly
[Page 3]
satisfied that his Nerves are deeply Affected &
that all his Complaints are of the Nervous kind,
I order'd him the following Medicine.
℞ Tinct. Cort: Peruvian:/Huxham./ unc. quatuor.
Tinct: Valerian: Volat:
Tinct: Guajac: Volat: @ dr. duas ℳ.
Of this Mede. I directed him to take one
tablespoonfull in two spoonfull of
Water ↑every day↑ one hour before breakfast, & two
hours before dinner. I have this day sent
him home to the Country, after recommending
constant & Moderate exercise, cheerful company
company, and a cheerful Glass of Wine.
I directed him to drink a pint of port or a
bottle of good sound old Claret every day,
and to avoid transacting every kind of
intricate business as much as possible.
I thought to order him Bark & Steel
in Substance, but have defer'd it till In
expectation of hearing from you soon.
[Page 4]
Any directions you are pleas'd to give
shall be compliant regularly followed.
I have the honour to be.
Sir
Your Very Obedt.Obedient Servant
Mr. Macnab
C. Mr. Nicolson
Aprl. 1786
V. XVIII. P. 95
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