
The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:4087] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Mrs Anna Allan (Wallace) (of Row) / Regarding: Mrs Elizabeth Allan (Colquhoun) (of Row) (Patient) / 16 June 1777 / (Outgoing)
Reply, 'Mrs Row C.'; a subtitle reads 'Ostensible Letter', with a 'Secret Letter' added below, diagnosing her with 'Hysteric Melancholy proceeding from religious considerations'.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 2 images for this document.

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Metadata
Field | Data |
---|---|
DOC ID | 4087 |
RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/9/60 |
Main Language | English |
Document Direction | Outgoing |
Date | 16 June 1777 |
Annotation | None |
Type | Scribal copy ( includes Casebook Entry) |
Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
Autopsy | No |
Recipe | Yes |
Regimen | No |
Letter of Introduction | No |
Case Note | No |
Summary | Reply, 'Mrs Row C.'; a subtitle reads 'Ostensible Letter', with a 'Secret Letter' added below, diagnosing her with 'Hysteric Melancholy proceeding from religious considerations'. |
Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
---|---|---|
[Case ID:819] |
Case of Mrs Allan, the wife of the minister at Row, who is diagnosed as being an 'hysterical melancholic' arising from religious considerations' but whose condition improves with a regimen and medicines. |
4 |
People linked to this document
Person ID | Role in document | Person |
---|---|---|
[PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
[PERS ID:2074] | Addressee | Mrs Anna Allan (of Row) |
[PERS ID:2076] | Patient | Mrs Elizabeth Allan (of Row) |
[PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
[PERS ID:2074] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Mrs Anna Allan (of Row) |
[PERS ID:2075] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Reverend John Allan (secundus, of Row) |
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 | Rhu (Row) | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
Mrs Allan at Row C.
Ostensible Letter.
Ailment Nervous –––– Hysteric Melancholy
The remedy to be depended upon is Riding on Horse
Back or in a Carriage – Best a Journey of some
length or Riding some hours every day.
If a Journey is entered upon, no medicines
but a Laxative to obviate Costiveness which
travelling may increase –– If she stays at
home besides daily and assiduous Exercise
she is to use the Medicine ordered below.
This has a tendency to purge; but the dose
must just keep the Belly regular & to be adjusted so.
To be continued for a month & I can advise
no ↑other↑ medicine till I know how this succeeds
Diet – No Tea or Coffee – Breakfast Milk
& water Gruel or water gruel alone alone more [solids?]
at Dinner a bit of plain solid meat avoiding
any kinds kinds that lye heavy on her stomach
Avoid all windy or cold Garden things ––
Safest drink water –– no malt Liquors. –
Wine doubtfull & if strong drink necessary
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some Spirits & water. –– Avoid solitude as
much as possible –– For Miss
Take 2 ounces of Soluble Tartar, an ounce of Polychrest Salts, half an ounce of Spanish Sea Salt, and 4 ounces each of simple Cinnamon Water and spring water. Dissolve, strain and label: Aperient Solution two table spoonfulls to be mixed with half a muchkin of spring water taken at two or three draughts in the morning b an hour before breakfast walking about between whiles.
The case of your freind an Hysteric Melancholy
proceeding from religious considerations so much
the worse, but does not vary the measures ––
The danger is that it affect her mind – but
I can advise nothing more than what is above.
It might be supposed that Mr Allans discourse
conversation might be of service to her; but
I never knew reasoning have much effect in such Cases.
Diplomatic Text
Mrs Allan at Row C.
Ostensible Letter.
Ailment Nervous –––– Hysteric Melancholy
The remedy to be depended upon is Riding on Horse
Back or in a Carriage – Best a Journey of some
length or Riding some hours every day.
If a Journey is entered upon, no medicines
but a Laxative to obviate Costiveness which
travelling may increase –– If she stays at
home besides daily and assiduous Exercise
she is to use the Med. ordered below.
This has a tendency to purge; but the dose
must just keep the Belly regr. & to be adjusted so.
To be continued for a month & I can advise
no ↑other↑ med. till I know how this succeeds
Diet – No Tea or Coffee – Breakfast Milk
& water Gruel or water gruel alone alone more [solids?]
at Dinner a bit of plain solid meat avoiding
any kinds kinds that lye heavy on her stomach
Avoid all windy or cold Garden things ––
Safest drink water –– no malt Liquors. –
Wine doubtfull & if strong drink necessary
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some Spirits & water. –– Avoid solitude as
much as possible –– For Miss
℞ Tartar Solubil ℥ii
Sal. polychrest. ℥i
marin. Hispan. ℥ſs
Aq. cinnamom. simpl.
font. @ ℥iv
Solve cola et S. Aperient Solution two
table spoonfulls to be mixed with half
a muchkin of spring water taken at two or
three draughts in the morng b an hour
before breakfast walking about between whiles.
The case of your freind an Hysteric Melancholy
proceeding from religious considerations so much
the worse, but does not vary the measures ––
The danger is that it affect her mind – but
I can advise nothing more than what is above.
It might be supposed that Mr Allans discourse
conversation might be of service to her; but
I never knew reasoning have much effect in such Cases.
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