The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:3254] From: Mr John Surtees / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Mr John Surtees (Patient) / 28? September 1788 / (Incoming)
Letter from John Surtees, concerning his own case. Undated; but as Cullen's reply (Doc ID 5732) is dated 2 October 1788, and he says he had received it the previous day, it clearly dates from the end of September. He describes a new ailment, an erisypelas-like eruption on his face and hands, which seems to relieve his breathing complaint. He describes its first appearance after he had been drinking freely at Lamberton Races. Place of writing inferred to be Newcastle as he has clearly returned home; also, he wants Ingham's letter returning.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 6 images for this document.
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[Page 2]
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[Page 6]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 3254 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/2151 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Incoming |
| Date | 28? September 1788 |
| 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 Surtees, concerning his own case. Undated; but as Cullen's reply (Doc ID 5732) is dated 2 October 1788, and he says he had received it the previous day, it clearly dates from the end of September. He describes a new ailment, an erisypelas-like eruption on his face and hands, which seems to relieve his breathing complaint. He describes its first appearance after he had been drinking freely at Lamberton Races. Place of writing inferred to be Newcastle as he has clearly returned home; also, he wants Ingham's letter returning. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1272] |
Case of Mr John Surtees who has asthma and erysipelas on his hands and face. |
11 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:4334] | Author | Mr John Surtees |
| [PERS ID:1] | Addressee | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:4334] | Patient | Mr John Surtees |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:82] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Mr William Ingham |
Places linked to this document
| Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Writing | Newcastle upon Tyne | North-East | England | Europe | inferred | |
| Destination of Letter | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | inferred | |
| Mentioned / Other | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Mentioned / Other | Lamberton | Borders | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
Since I had the Pleasure of seeing you
at Edinburgh, tho I have at times not been
free from Cause of Complaint, I have on the Whole
continued much better than I had been for
twelve months before that Time.
My Disorder is however at present trouble¬
some, so as to disturb my Rest; and I am
induced in the Hope that it may be useful
in pointing out the Cause of my Disorder,
to state to you a Circumstance, which
perhaps it would have been well if it I
[Page 2]
had stated to you, as it was once in my
Contemplation to do, at the Time it took Place.
In the beginning of July last, having has
previously a considerable Pain in my breast,
attended with a Difficulty of breathing, an Eruption
of the Erisypelas kind overspread my Face
& Hands. It made its Appearance in small
spots which spread & afterwards formed one
mass. On its Appearance the difficulty
of breathing with which I had been troubled
ceased, and I continued about three Weeks
wholly free from any disorder in my Lungs.
If there be any Foundation for my opinion that
the Relief I obtained ↑was↑ in Consequence of this Eruption,
[Page 3]
you will perhaps think it necessary that an
Attempt should be made to correct as one of
the Causes of my Disorder, that Acrimony of
blood of which I suspect this Eruption to be
Evidence.
This Eruption however it may be proper to
observe first shewed itself the night after
having drunk pretty freely of Wine at the Lamber¬
ton Race Ordinary, and after having danced in
a very crowded Room so as to heat my self
exceedingly. It may also be proper to
remark that these last seven Years I have in
the Summer Season regularly had an Eruption
of the same kind on my Face & Hands, and that
[Page 4]
the two last Years preceding the present Year
this annual Eruption was so triffling that I
have barely such Recollection of it as enables
me to say that a few spots did each Year
appear.
To this Statement I have nothing new to
add. I continue costive; I continue to
feel Uneasiness in my breathing after drinking
Wine, and yet more on any obstruction of
Perspiration: I am still subject to Flushing
in my Face, and to bleedings at my nose.
I enclose you a draft on the British Linen Co. (↑two notes↑)
for Two Guineas, and beg you will be so
good at your Convenience as to favour me
[Page 5]
with your Advice, and to enclose me your
Letter to Mr Ingham on my Subject, which
I left with you the last Time I was at
Edinburgh.
I am
Sir, with much Respect,
your obedient Servant
The Eruption in July produced no fever that I
was sensible of, and disappeared gradually.
[Page 6]
Dr Cullen
Diplomatic Text
Since I had the Pleasure of seeing you
at Edinburgh, tho I have at times not been
free from Cause of Complaint, I have on the Whole
continued much better than I had been for
twelve months before that Time.
My Disorder is however at present trouble¬
some, so as to disturb my Rest; and I am
induced in the Hope that it may be useful
in pointing out the Cause of my Disorder,
to state to you a Circumstance, which
perhaps it would have been well if it I
[Page 2]
had stated to you, as it was once in my
Contemplation to do, at the Time it took Place.
In the beginning of July last, having has
previously a considerable Pain in my breast,
attended with a Difficulty of breathing, an Eruption
of the Erisypelas kind overspread my Face
& Hands. It made its Appearance in small
spots which spread & afterwards formed one
mass. On its Appearance the difficulty
of breathing with which I had been troubled
ceased, and I continued about three Weeks
wholly free from any disorder in my Lungs.
If there be any Foundation for my opinion that
the Relief I obtained ↑was↑ in Consequence of this Eruption,
[Page 3]
you will perhaps think it necessary that an
Attempt should be made to correct as one of
the Causes of my Disorder, that Acrimony of
blood of which I suspect this Eruption to be
Evidence.
This Eruption however it may be proper to
observe first shewed itself the night after
having drunk pretty freely of Wine at the Lamber¬
ton Race Ordinary, and after having danced in
a very crowded Room so as to heat my self
exceedingly. It may also be proper to
remark that these last seven Years I have in
the Summer Season regularly had an Eruption
of the same kind on my Face & Hands, and that
[Page 4]
the two last Years preceding the present Year
this annual Eruption was so triffling that I
have barely such Recollection of it as enables
me to say that a few spots did each Year
appear.
To this Statement I have nothing new to
add. I continue costive; I continue to
feel Uneasiness in my breathing after drinking
Wine, and yet more on any obstruction of
Perspiration: I am still subject to Flushing
in my Face, and to bleedings at my nose.
I enclose you a draft on the British Linen Co. (↑two notes↑)
for Two Guineas, and beg you will be so
good at your Convenience as to favour me
[Page 5]
with your Advice, and to enclose me your
Letter to Mr Ingham on my Subject, which
I left with you the last Time I was at
Edinburgh.
I am
Sir, with much Respect,
your obedt Servant
The Eruption in July produced no fever that I
was sensible of, and disappeared gradually.
[Page 6]
Dr Cullen
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