The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:2830] From: Dr John Gilchrist (of Speddoch) / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Reverend William Burnside (of Dumfries) (Patient) / 13 June 1786 / (Incoming)
Letter from John Gilchrist, concerning the case of Rev. Burnside, who is still unwell. Gilchrist had forgotten to mention previously that he had used 12 leeches on Burnside when the headaches were severe. In a lengthy postscript, he adds that the patient's appetite is improving: 'he had not only taken his poached egg the night before, but at dinner time had, entirely of his own accord, eaten a bit of Pigeon'. Rev. Burnside's brother, from Nottingham, had previously consulted Cullen for rheumatism a few years previously (Case ID 1453). A reference to 'other medical visitors' probably means Alexander Copland.
- 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 | 2830 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/1867 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Incoming |
| Date | 13 June 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 John Gilchrist, concerning the case of Rev. Burnside, who is still unwell. Gilchrist had forgotten to mention previously that he had used 12 leeches on Burnside when the headaches were severe. In a lengthy postscript, he adds that the patient's appetite is improving: 'he had not only taken his poached egg the night before, but at dinner time had, entirely of his own accord, eaten a bit of Pigeon'. Rev. Burnside's brother, from Nottingham, had previously consulted Cullen for rheumatism a few years previously (Case ID 1453). A reference to 'other medical visitors' probably means Alexander Copland. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:965] |
Case of the Reverend Burnside who is left weak from a history of headaches and attacks of sweating. |
6 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:115] | Author | Dr John Gilchrist (of Speddoch) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Addressee | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:4348] | Patient | Reverend William Burnside (of Dumfries) |
| [PERS ID:115] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr John Gilchrist (of Speddoch) |
| [PERS ID:566] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Mr Alexander Copland (Coupland; of King's Grange) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:4364] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Mr Burnside (in Nottingham) |
Places linked to this document
| Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Writing | Dumfries | Borders | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Destination of Letter | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Mentioned / Other | Nottingham | Midlands | England | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
Tho I know well your readiness to write about all patients
yet I know too that it is not easy to write where there is little to say.
Mr Burnside continues much in the way in which I last writ
you, complaining chiefly I think of want of sleep and lowness; to
which I may add impatience of the long continuance of his Com¬
plaints. Two or three nights of tolerable rest I believe would
make a considerable change for the better; but good sleep, as
I am telling him, will hardly come till his strength be a little
increased, –– till he can be able to bear a little air, and ex¬
ercise, or motion; and till his diet be mended. –– Yesterday
I made him be carried into another room and laid on a
Couch for some time, – and he was to eat a poached egg in
the evening; tho' his pulse be still from 90 to 100. After
receiving your last letter he was fond to try the application
of tempered water, in the manner you advise to his head
& face, and he has used it two or three times without any
inconvenience –– When his throat was ill he used Bark
freely, & likewise Wine; – & his medical visitors as well
as others, are all urging every day, the full use of them
still; tho' I have been by no means inclined to recom¬
mend any more than a very moderate use of either ––––
Neither opi↑a↑tes tried occasionally, nor fomentations, have had
any effect in procuring rest. –– His headach & sweatings
however are certainly much more moderate than they were
three weeks ago. –– I believe I did not mention that a Blis¬
[Page 2]
ter which had been appli↑e↑d to the nape of his neck – has been kept
open, pretty freely and easily, with the Mild Epispastic Ointment –
The length of my first letter too prevented me from mention¬
ing that at the commencement of his present illness, when
the pain of the head was excessive, and the general disor¬
der very great, the application of at least twelve leeches to
the temples &c, gave considerable temporary relief.
When you can say any thing farther, Dear Sir, that you think
necessary in addition to what you have already said to us
I will be happy to hear from you; but not sooner; that is
not to put yourself to an inconvenience by writing. ––
Mr Burnside seems to wish you should know that he
is Brother to the Gentleman who came from Nottingham
to consult you three or four years ago, on account of
a rheumatic or gouty ailment.
I am always
Dear Sir
Most faithfully yours
[Page 3]
June 14th –– I did not send my letter yesterday, having heard
of a private opportunity for to-day. – Mr B. had but a very
indifferent day yesterday, his headach, at one time, being
very severe, and the sweating considerable. I must
mention that he had not only taken his poached egg the
night before, but at dinner time had, entirely of his own ac¬
cord, eaten a bit of Pigeon; for I now find he is very
much disposed to eat, and, tho' he had taken nothing pro¬
perly solid till the day before yesterday, yet
he has been all along [taking?] for two or three
weeks, taking very sufficiently (as those who chiefly
attend him inform me) of good broths and nou¬
rishing things, – even when we imagined he was taking
very little of anything –––– This day he is better than
yesterday, and yet he says a very little sleep last night;
that is, he is much in the way he has been in for a
fortnight past. –––– We think there is some little appearance
of regularity in the coming of the headach; that is, it seems
to have come at some time in the course of the night; and
lasted till perhaps ten or twelve in the morning, these three
or four days past; –– But this will by no means authorise us, as yet,
to suppose any pointed or regular accession–
The management of diet & Wine, you see, will be the most difficult
matter in this case. –– Are we to give any indulgence to former habits of
good living; – or adhere strictly to a low, or very moderate diet? – The latter method
is perhaps the likeliest to bring about a permanent change, if Mr B has resolution to
[Page 4]
persist in it, and bear up, for a while, perhaps for a good while, under
present distress; but the propriety or safety of this I must submit en¬
tirely to your experience –––– His pulse upon the whole stands it very
well, and is very uniform. –––– His headachs we must always remem¬
ber are not a complaint of one or two months but of twelve or
more months standing; and therefore not to be cured easily
To
Dr Cullen Physician
Edinburgh
[Dr] Gilchrist
C. Mr. Burnside
June 1786
V. XVIII. p. 179
Diplomatic Text
Tho I know well your readiness to write about all patients
yet I know too that it is not easy to write where there is little to say.
Mr Burnside continues much in the way in which I last writ
you, complaining chiefly I think of want of sleep and lowness; to
which I may add impatience of the long continuance of his Com¬
plaints. Two or three nights of tolerable rest I believe would
make a considerable change for the better; but good sleep, as
I am telling him, will hardly come till his strength be a little
increased, –– till he can be able to bear a little air, and ex¬
ercise, or motion; and till his diet be mended. –– Yesterday
I made him be carried into another room and laid on a
Couch for some time, – and he was to eat a poached egg in
the evening; tho' his pulse be still from 90 to 100. After
receiving your last letter he was fond to try the application
of tempered water, in the manner you advise to his head
& face, and he has used it two or three times without any
inconvenience –– When his throat was ill he used Bark
freely, & likewise Wine; – & his medical visitors as well
as others, are all urging every day, the full use of them
still; tho' I have been by no means inclined to recom¬
mend any more than a very moderate use of either ––––
Neither opi↑a↑tes tried occasionally, nor fomentations, have had
any effect in procuring rest. –– His headach & sweatings
however are certainly much more moderate than they were
three weeks ago. –– I believe I did not mention that a Blis¬
[Page 2]
ter which had been appli↑e↑d to the nape of his neck – has been kept
open, pretty freely and easily, with the Ung: epispast mitius –
The length of my first letter too prevented me from mention¬
ing that at the commencement of his present illness, when
the pain of the head was excessive, and the general disor¬
der very great, the application of at least twelve leeches to
the temples &c, gave considerable temporary relief.
When you can say any thing farther, Dear Sir, that you think
necessary in addition to what you have already said to us
I will be happy to hear from you; but not sooner; that is
not to put yourself to an inconvenience by writing. ––
Mr Burnside seems to wish you should know that he
is Brother to the Gentleman who came from Nottingham
to consult you three or four years ago, on account of
a rheumatic or gouty ailment.
I am always
Dear Sir
Most faithfully yours
[Page 3]
June 14th –– I did not send my letter yesterday, having heard
of a private opportunity for to-day. – Mr B. had but a very
indifferent day yesterday, his headach, at one time, being
very severe, and the sweating considerable. I must
mention that he had not only taken his poached egg the
night before, but at dinner time had, entirely of his own ac¬
cord, eaten a bit of Pigeon; for I now find he is very
much disposed to eat, and, tho' he had taken nothing pro¬
perly solid till the day before yesterday, yet
he has been all along [taking?] for two or three
weeks, taking very sufficiently (as those who chiefly
attend him inform me) of good broths and nou¬
rishing things, – even when we imagined he was taking
very little of anything –––– This day he is better than
yesterday, and yet he says a very little sleep last night;
that is, he is much in the way he has been in for a
fortnight past. –––– We think there is some little appearance
of regularity in the coming of the headach; that is, it seems
to have come at some time in the course of the night; and
lasted till perhaps ten or twelve in the morning, these three
or four days past; –– But this will by no means authorise us, as yet,
to suppose any pointed or regular accession–
The management of diet & Wine, you see, will be the most difficult
matter in this case. –– Are we to give any indulgence to former habits of
good living; – or adhere strictly to a low, or very moderate diet? – The latter method
is perhaps the likeliest to bring about a permanent change, if Mr B has resolution to
[Page 4]
persist in it, and bear up, for a while, perhaps for a good while, under
present distress; but the propriety or safety of this I must submit en¬
tirely to your experience –––– His pulse upon the whole stands it very
well, and is very uniform. –––– His headachs we must always remem¬
ber are not a complaint of one or two months but of twelve or
more months standing; and therefore not to be cured easily
To
Dr Cullen Physician
Edinr
[Dr] Gilchrist
C. Mr. Burnside
June 1786
V. XVIII. p. 179
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