The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:352] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Mr Andrew Liddell (Liddle) / Regarding: Mr Robert Sutherland Dunbar ('Mr Bob') (Patient) / 25 October 1775 / (Outgoing)
Reply 'For ___, whose case has been delivered to me by Mr McKenzie'. 'Mr Dunbar' is added in another hand; it probably refers to Robert Dunbar, which implies it is to be sent to Dr Andrew Liddell. Cullen believes the ailments to result from a disorder of the bowels. He gives dietary advice and discusses the use of purgatives and other medicines. There are two recipes: a strengthening infusion and an aperient mixture.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 2 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 352 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/6/51 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 25 October 1775 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Scribal copy ( includes Casebook Entry) |
| Enclosure(s) | Enclosure(s) present |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | Yes |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply 'For ___, whose case has been delivered to me by Mr McKenzie'. 'Mr Dunbar' is added in another hand; it probably refers to Robert Dunbar, which implies it is to be sent to Dr Andrew Liddell. Cullen believes the ailments to result from a disorder of the bowels. He gives dietary advice and discusses the use of purgatives and other medicines. There are two recipes: a strengthening infusion and an aperient mixture. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:497] |
Case of young Robert Dunbar (son Lady Dunbar of Hempriggs), who has feverish symptoms. |
3 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:339] | Addressee | Mr Andrew Liddell (Liddle) |
| [PERS ID:1508] | Patient | Mr Robert Sutherland Dunbar ('Mr Bob') |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:339] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Mr Andrew Liddell (Liddle) |
| [PERS ID:1567] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr Joshua McKenzie |
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 | Ackergill Tower | Wick | North Highlands | Scotland | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
For ––––
whose case has been delivered to me by Mr McKenzie.
After attentitively considering the case I am sorry to observe that his bowels seem to
be in some disorder & I judge most of his ailments to proceed from that.
His mild & soft diet must be continued. It should be of chiefly milk &
farinacea, avoiding animal food excepting a little chicken or other of the very lightest
kind & avoiding roots or greens. The Decoct. alb. may be continued for ordinary
drink, but without the Sal diureticus & he may frequently alternate the Decoction
with milk tea, i.e. two parts boiling water poured on one of fresh cowmilk.
[Page 2]
The ass milk with the lime water should be continued as long as he bears it without
purging.
When purging requires it he may employ either the Decoction Campechense or Julap.
[istens?] as he has had experience of both but I expect he may find benefit from
the Strengthening Infusion ordered below.
The Aperient & diuretic best suited to this case is Spiritus mindereri & I'm
afraid least much of the Sal Diureticus prove purgative more than diuretic.
For an aperient I have given a formula below to be used as much as can be
without purging.
A gentle vomit of Ipecac. may often be of service. For his appetite
let him take from 20 to 30 drops of Elix. vitriol. in a glass of water.
This is all at present but if any thing new &ccc
Take a drachm each of ground Japanese Earth and crushed Cinnamon, half an ounce of crushed Pomegranate peel, an ounce of Gum Arabic and 7 ounces of boiling water. Steep for 4 hours, stirring constantly, then strain through woollen fabric and add: an ounce each of Cinnamon Spirit Water and Poppyhead Syrup, 40 drops of Thebaic Tincture, more or less as required. Label: Strengthening Infusion a tablespoonfull or two to be taken several times a day when looseness is troublesome.
Take 4 ounces of Spirit Minderer, 2 ounces of Mallow Syrup and 2 scruples of Regenerated Tartar. Mix. Label: Aperient mixture a table spoonful to be taken several times a day
1775.
Diplomatic Text
For ––––
whose case has bn delivered to me by Mr McKenzie.
After attentitively considg. ye case I am sorry to observe yt his bowels seem to
be in some disorder & I judge most of his ailmts. to proceed fm that.
His mild & soft diet must be continued. It should be of chiefly milk &
farinacea, avoidg. anim. food exceptg a little chicken or other of ye very lightest
kind & avoidg. roots or greens. The Decoct. alb. may be contind. for ordinary
drink, bt wout ye Sal diureticus & he may frequently alternate ye Decoct.
w milk tea, i.e. two pts boiling water poured on one of fresh cowmilk.
[Page 2]
The ass milk w ye lime wat. should be contd. as long as he bears it wout
purgg.
Wn purgg. requires it he may employ either ye Decoct. Campechense or Julap.
[istens?] as he has had experience of both bt I expect he may find benefit fm
ye Strengthening Infus. ordd bel.
The Aperient & diuretic best suited to ys case is Spt. mindereri & I'm
afraid least much of ye Sal Diureticus prove purgative more yn diuretic.
For an aperient I have given a formula below to be used as mc as can be
wout purging.
A gentle vom. of Ipecac. may often be of service. For his appetite
let him take from 20 to 30 drops of Elix. vitriol. in a glass of water.
This is all at present but if any thing new &ccc
℞. Terr. Japon. pulv. Cinnam. cont. @ ʒi
Cort. granat. cont. ℥ſs. Gumm. Arab. ℥i
Aq. bull. ℥vii Digere subinde agitans h. 4. dein [p?] pannum
lan. cola & adde
Aq. cinnam. spirituos. Syrup Diacod. @ ℥i
Tinct. Thebaic. gtt. XL. plusve minus pro re nata.
Signa Strengtheng. Infus.n a table spnfull or two to be taken sevl times
a day wn looseness is troublesome.
℞ Spir. minderer. ℥iv Syrup. ex Alth. ℥ii Tart. regenerat. ℈ii
ℳ. Signa. Aperient mixture a table spoonful to be taken several
times a day.
1775.
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