Cullen

The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh

 

[ID:3467] From: Mr John Goodsir / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Mr John Bethune (Lindsay) (Lindsay of Wormiston; after 1782, Bethune of Kilconquhar/Balfour) (Patient) / 26 February 1789 / (Incoming)

Letter from John Goodsir concerning the case of Mr Bethune of Kilconquhar.

Facsimile

There are 4 images for this document.

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Metadata

FieldData
DOC ID 3467
RCPE Catalogue Number CUL/1/2/2355
Main Language English
Document Direction Incoming
Date26 February 1789
Annotation None
TypeAuthorial original
Enclosure(s) No enclosure(s)
Autopsy No
Recipe No
Regimen No
Letter of Introduction No
Case Note No
Summary Letter from John Goodsir concerning the case of Mr Bethune of Kilconquhar.
Manuscript Incomplete? No
Evidence of Commercial Posting Yes

Case

Cases that this document belongs to:

Case ID Description Num Docs
[Case ID:196]
Case of John (Lindsay) Bethune of Kilconquhar, being reported almost daily by his surgeon John Goodsir.
24


People linked to this document

Person IDRole in documentPerson
[PERS ID:1301]AuthorMr John Goodsir
[PERS ID:1]AddresseeDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:464]PatientMr John Bethune (Lindsay of Wormiston; after 1782, Bethune of Kilconquhar/Balfour)
[PERS ID:1301]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryMr John Goodsir
[PERS ID:1]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:4163]Patient's Relative / Spouse / FriendMr Peter Lindsay (Patrick Lindsay; of Coats, later of Wormiston)
[PERS ID:4164]Patient's Relative / Spouse / FriendMiss Anne, Alison or Elizabeth Lindsay
[PERS ID:5375]Patient's Relative / Spouse / FriendMr Henry Lindsay (Harry; Lindsay Bethune; Lindsay of Wormiston; after 1789, Bethune of Kilconquhar and Balfour)

Places linked to this document

Role in document Specific Place Settlements / Areas Region Country Global Region Confidence
Place of Writing Largo Edinburgh and East Scotland Europe certain
Destination of Letter The University of Edinburgh Edinburgh Edinburgh and East Scotland Europe certain
Place of Handstamp Leven Edinburgh and East Scotland Europe certain

Normalized Text

[Page 1]
Dear Doctor


Mr. Bethune of Kilconquhar
aged I supose about 56 or 7 about two months
ago was seized with Cough which was & still
is not very considerable attended now how¬
ever with some degree of Dyspnæa, Expecto¬
ates
pritty freely a thick mucous stuff-


He has gone on with these symptoms for the
above period and not thinking much of them,
but reather in that ↑time↑ losing his Flesh and
Colour- A few days ago His Appetite became
impaird
which first made him take parti¬
cular notice of his Complaints--


This morning (Tuesday) I was with Mr. Bethune
& was reather Surprised when he showed me
his left Leg where there is an Œdematous
swelling
about the ankle joint reaching



[Page 2]

up near to the middle of the Fibia. Mr. B:
has no Drought, Urine free, Tongue clean,
Bowels natural, reather Lax, Pulse too, which
by the Bye is incommonly quick in its natural
state
- I proposed a gentle Emetic for Mr. Bethune
but he seemed reather averse to it and he never
took one in his Life, & next a ↑mild↑ purgative as his
Bowels is very irritable- I have begun him
with the Vitriolic Acid, ordered his Limbs
to be rub'd with a flesh Brush every morning
& above all things to take regular Exercise
on Horse Back within fatigue every forenoon
& to attend to a light & nourishing Diet.


I informed Mr. Bethunes younger Brother
Mr. Peter Lindsay who lives with him that
I was reather alarm'd at Mr. Bethunes Case



[Page 3]

especially upon seeing the Œdematous Swelling
He desired me without informing his Brother
Mr. Bethune of Sisters Miss Lindsays, to get
a Consultation at Edinburgh which I was very ready
to do so, Doctor Cullen need not mention any
thing of this to Mr. Harry Lindsay till we
can bring it about to inform Mr. Bethune
himself- Doctor Cullen will probably know
that Mr. Bethune has for some years [past]
reather taken his Glass freely this also {illeg}
silent- With very much Respect


I am Dear Dcoctor
Your very Humbled & Obedient Servant
John Goodsir

Largs February 26th
1789



[Page 4]


Doctor Cullen
Professor of Medecine
University of Edinburgh


Mr. Goodsir
C. Mr. Bethune
Feby 1789
N. XX p. 91, 96, 109

Diplomatic Text

[Page 1]
Dear Doctor


Mr. Bethune of Kilconqur.
aged I supose about 56 or 7 about two months
ago was seized with Cough which was & still
is not very considerable attended now how¬
ever with some degree of Dyspnæa, Expecto¬
ates
pritty freely a thick mucous stuff-


He has gone on with these symptoms for the
above period and not thinking much of them,
but reather in that ↑time↑ losing his Flesh and
Colour- A few days ago His Appetite became
impaird
which first made him take parti¬
cular notice of his Complaints--


This morning (Tuesday) I was with Mr. Bethune
& was reather Surprised when he showed me
his left Leg where there is an Œdematous
swelling
about the ankle joint reaching



[Page 2]

up near to the middle of the Fibia. Mr. B:
has no Drought, Urine free, Tongue clean,
Bowels natural, reather Lax, Pulse too, which
by the Bye is incommonly quick in its natural
state
- I proposed a gentle Emetic for Mr. Bethune
but he seemed reather averse to it and he never
took one in his Life, & next a ↑mild↑ purgative as his
Bowels is very irritable- I have begun him
with the Vitriolic Acid, ordered his Limbs
to be rub'd with a flesh Brush every morning
& above all things to take regular Exercise
on Horse Back within fatigue every forenoon
& to attend to a light & nourishing Diet.


I informed Mr. Bethunes younger Brother
Mr. Peter Lindsay who lives with him that
I was reather alarm'd at Mr. Bethunes Case



[Page 3]

especially upon seeing the Œdematous Swelling
He desired me without informing his Brother
Mr. Bethune of Sisters Miss Lindsays, to get
a Consultation at Edinr. which I was very ready
to do so, Doctor Cullen need not mention any
thing of this to Mr. Harry Lindsay till we
can bring it about to inform Mr. Bethune
himself- Doctor Cullen will probably know
that Mr. Bethune has for some years [past]
reather taken his Glass freely this also {illeg}
silent- With very much Respect


I am Dear Dcoctor
Your very Huble & Obet. Servant
John Goodsir

Largs Feby. 26th
1789



[Page 4]


Doctor Cullen
Professor of Medecine
University of Edinr.


Mr. Goodsir
C. Mr. Bethune
Feby 1789
N. XX p. 91, 96, 109

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