The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:4195] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Dr John Gilchrist (of Speddoch) / Regarding: Miss Jeanie McMurdo (Macmurdo) (Patient) / 6 December 1777 / (Outgoing)
Reply to Dr John Glchrist headed 'Miss Jeanie Macmurdo - Dr Gilchrist' Cullen advises on the use of opium to treat her spasmodic attacks of colic. He concludes with a Latin tag from Virgil's Aeneid (Book 2, lines 291-2).
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Metadata
Field | Data |
---|---|
DOC ID | 4195 |
RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/10/52 |
Main Language | English |
Document Direction | Outgoing |
Date | 6 December 1777 |
Annotation | None |
Type | Scribal copy ( includes Casebook Entry) |
Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
Autopsy | No |
Recipe | No |
Regimen | No |
Letter of Introduction | No |
Case Note | No |
Summary | Reply to Dr John Glchrist headed 'Miss Jeanie Macmurdo - Dr Gilchrist' Cullen advises on the use of opium to treat her spasmodic attacks of colic. He concludes with a Latin tag from Virgil's Aeneid (Book 2, lines 291-2). |
Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
---|---|---|
[Case ID:684] |
Case of Miss Jean ["Jeanie"] McMurdo [MacMurdo] who in 1775 has a fever, in 1778 has a bad chest condition with feverish symptoms, and then develops severe bouts of colic. |
9 |
People linked to this document
Person ID | Role in document | Person |
---|---|---|
[PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
[PERS ID:115] | Addressee | Dr John Gilchrist (of Speddoch) |
[PERS ID:1403] | Patient | Miss Jeanie McMurdo (Macmurdo) |
[PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
[PERS ID:115] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr John Gilchrist (of Speddoch) |
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 | Dumfries | Borders | Scotland | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
Miss Jeanie Macmurdo. – Dr Gilchrist.
Lay aside at present the consideration of her Pectoral Complaints
both because not so urgent & because the Colics are much
more so. These entirely spasmodic to be cured by Opium only
which altho frequently employed & in large quantity I suspect has not
been employed in a large enough quantity or it has missed its effect
by being taken par reprises 1 & the seeming advantage from
that given in glysters owing probably to its having been given
in too large a dose at once. – As in Tetanus & Trismus so in
many other Spasmodic Cases the Doses of Opium must be
much larger than usual. – Try it upon this plan & let us
know the result. – The Blistering was a probable scheme
& if other measures fail I should still propose a Perpetual
Blister somewhere near the Navel – You dont say distinctly
that warm bathing has been tried. I have a good opinion of it
& believe if she could bear in the time of her Pain being immer¬
sed to the waist for an hour in warm water she might be relieved
by it – If she cant bear that try fomenting her belly with
flannels wrung out of boiling water &c.
Upon the approach of a fit of it will always be of great conse¬
quence to have her belly opened and if the Rhubarb Infusion answers
the Pur purpose it may be employed, but I would depend
more upon Scammony Powder or Composite Jalap Powder & of any
Laxative employed I expect that a large Dose will always
be necessary. I believe the Castor Oil did not answer
because her Stomach could not bear the large dose that
was necessary & in such cases to make it effectual it must be
given par reprises; 2 but I leave this. –– In such a singular
constitution I have little confidence in our skill & am
ready to save yours si pergam ad dextra 3 . &c. &c.
Notes:
1: "repeatedly".
2: "repeatedly".
3: Cullen is misquoting from Virgil's Aenied Book 2, line 297, 'Si Pergama dextra defendi possent, etiam hac defensa fuissent' ( 'If Troy could have been defended by any right arm…'). By this Cullen seems to be implying "that if the patient can be saved, then you can do it…".
Diplomatic Text
Miss Jeanie Macmurdo. – Dr Gilchrist.
Lay aside at present the consideration of her Pectoral Compts.
both because not so urgent & because the Colics are much
more so. These entirely spasmodic to be cured by Opium only
wc altho frequently employed & in large qty I suspect has not
been employed in a large enough qty. or it has missed its effect
by being taken par reprises 1 & the seeming advantage from
that given in glysters owing probably to its having been given
in too large a dose at once. – As in Tetanus & Trismus so in
many other Spasmodic Cases the Doses of Opium must be
much larger than usual. – Try it upon this plan & let us
know the result. – The Blistering was a probable scheme
& if other measures fail I should still propose a Perpetual
Blister somewhere near the Navel – You dont say distinctly
that warm bathing has been tried. I have a good opinion of it
& believe if she could bear in the time of her Pain being immer¬
sed to the waist for an hour in warm water she might be relieved
by it – If she cant bear that try fomenting her belly with
flannels wrung out of boiling water &c.
Upon the approach of a fit of it will always be of great conse¬
quence to have her belly opened and if the Infusum Rhei answers
the Pur purpose it may be employed, but I would depend
more upon Pulv. e Scammonio or e jalap compt. & of any
Laxative employed I expect that a large Dose will always
be necessary. I believe the Oleum Ricini did not answer
because her Stomach could not bear the large dose that
was necessary & in such cases to make it effectual it must be
given par reprises; 2 but I leave this. –– In such a singular
constitution I have little confidence in our skill & am
ready to save yours si pergam ad dextra 3 . &c. &c.
Notes:
1: "repeatedly".
2: "repeatedly".
3: Cullen is misquoting from Virgil's Aenied Book 2, line 297, 'Si Pergama dextra defendi possent, etiam hac defensa fuissent' ( 'If Troy could have been defended by any right arm…'). By this Cullen seems to be implying "that if the patient can be saved, then you can do it…".
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