The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:4239] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Dr Alexander Wemyss (of Pitkenny) / Regarding: Mrs Elizabeth Beatson (Betty) (Patient) / 28 April 1778 / (Outgoing)
Reply, 'Dr Wemyss Kircaldy C. Mrs. B. Beatson'.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 3 images for this document.
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Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 4239 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/10/96 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 28 April 1778 |
| 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, 'Dr Wemyss Kircaldy C. Mrs. B. Beatson'. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:881] |
Case of Mrs Betty Beatson who has stomach disorder and, some years later, has a nephritic complaint. |
4 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:325] | Addressee | Dr Alexander Wemyss (of Pitkenny) |
| [PERS ID:2253] | Patient | Mrs Elizabeth Beatson (Betty) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:325] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr Alexander Wemyss (of Pitkenny) |
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 | Kirkcaldy | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
Dr. Wemyss Kircaldy Concerning Miss (↑M.rs↑) B. Beatson
I was in the country yesterday and could not answer your
letter. I have now considered Mrs. B. Beatsons case and
think it purely an affection of the Stomach, which may
be tedious but is not dangerous and I think it may be very
greatly relieved. For this purpose I would in the first place
recommend a constant attention to prevent costiveness by a man¬
agement of her diet, if her own experience can direct to that
purpose, or if that cannot be done she must have recourse
to medecine. The aloetics are the best for keeping the belly
regular without purging which is not proper. – If there is any
objection to the aloetics, let her try the flowers of Sulphur, the
castor oil or the composite Jalap powder for in this the triture
renders the Jalap milder and ready ready to operate in a
[Page 2]
small dose. – By one or other of these remedies frequently employ¬
ed as occasion may seem to require – She should rather prevent
costiveness, than wait to cure it when it has come on. When this
is done she may take medicines for strengthening the Stomach
and as the Bark has (↑does↑) not seem to have answered alone, I would
give her a Chalybeate in the following form.
Take 5 grains each of prepared powdered Steel and ground Cinnamon and 10 grains of whitel lump Sugar. mix and in this way make 28 doses. Label: Stomachic Powders one to be taken twice a day in a little currant jelly or panada washing it down with three tablespoonfulls of the following Infusion
Take half an ounce of ground Peruvian Bark and 2 drachms of crushed Orange peel. Add a pint of boiling water and steep, stirring constantly, 12 hours, strain through paper, then add to the strainings 2 ounces of Peruvian Bark tincture. Label: Stomachic Infusion three tablespoonfulls to be taken after every dose of the powders, and hour before dinner & supper
By these medecines I hope her stomach will be strength¬
ened and the return of her complaints prevented, but I would
not have her take these medicines for more than a fortnight
at one time, but after an intermission of two or three weeks, if
the state of her stomach seems to require it she may then take
another course of the medecines, and thus too for several times
especially if the benefit of the first trials shall advise it.
If in spite of these remedies the pain and vomiting should
at any time return, there is no certain relief but from opium
in one shape or other. It is commonly necessary and generally
best to give it in a full dose, and if it is not retained in the
[Page 3]
stomach it is as effectual given by a Glyster – but I need not
tell you that by glyster it requires a double dose or more.
When Opium is to be employed it is necessary to remove
costiveness and this especially under the repetition of the
opiates. ––––
Mrs. Beatsons health will depend very much on the
management of her diet, in avoiding very heavy animal
food – and avoiding as carefully ascent or flatulent veget¬
ables – but you have given me no information to lead me to
be more particular – and in writing to you I think I need not.
If M.rs Beatsons situation can allow of it either riding
or walking on horseback or walking going in a Carriage
would be of service to her.
Dear Sir your most obedient Servant
1778.
Diplomatic Text
Dr. Wemyss Kircaldy C. Miss (↑M.rs↑) B. Beatson
I was in the country yesterday and could not answer your
letter. I have now considered Mrs. B. Beatsons case and
think it purely an affection of the Stomach, which may
be tedious but is not dangerous and I think it may be very
greatly relieved. For this purpose I would in the first place
recommend a constant attention to prevent costiveness by a man¬
agement of her diet, if her own experience can direct to that
purpose, or if that cannot be done she must have recourse
to medecine. The aloetics are the best for keeping the belly
regular without purging which is not proper. – If there is any
objection to the aloetics, let her try the flor. Sulphuris, the
oleum ricini or the pulv. e Jalap. comp. for in this the triture
renders the Jalap milder and ready ready to operate in a
[Page 2]
small dose. – By one or other of these remedies frequently employ¬
ed as occasion may seem to require – She should rather prevent
costiveness, than wait to cure it when it has come on. When this
is done she may take medicines for strengthening the Stomach
and as the Bark has (↑does↑) not seem to have answered alone, I would
give her a Chalybeate in the following form.
℞ Limatur. Mart. ppt.
Cinnamom. pulv. @ gr. V
Sacchar. alb. duriss. gr. X
ℳ. f. pulvis et siant. h. m. dos. № xxviij
Sig. Stomachic Powders one to be taken twice a day in a little
currant jelly or panada washing it down with three tablespoon¬
fulls of the following Infusion
℞ pulv. cort. Peruvian. ℥ſs
Cort. aurantior. cont. ʒij
Affunde aq. bullient. lbj et digere, subinde agitans, horas duode¬
cim dein per chartam cola et colatæ adde
Tinct. cort. Peruvian. ℥ij
Sig. Stomachic Infusion three tablespoonfulls to be taken
after every dose of the powders, and hour before dinner & supper
By these medecines I hope her stomach will be strength¬
ened and the return of her complaints prevented, but I would
not have her take these medicines for more than a fortnight
at one time, but after an intermission of two or three weeks, if
the state of her stomach seems to require it she may then take
another course of the medecines, and thus too for several times
especially if the benefit of the first trials shall advise it.
If in spite of these remedies the pain and vomiting should
at any time return, there is no certain relief but from opium
in one shape or other. It is commonly necessary and generally
best to give it in a full dose, and if it is not retained in the
[Page 3]
stomach it is as effectual given by a Glyster – but I need not
tell you that by glyster it requires a double dose or more.
When Opium is to be employed it is necessary to remove
costiveness and this especially under the repetition of the
opiates. ––––
Mrs. Beatsons health will depend very much on the
management of her diet, in avoiding very heavy animal
food – and avoiding as carefully ascent or flatulent veget¬
ables – but you have given me no information to lead me to
be more particular – and in writing to you I think I need not.
If M.rs Beatsons situation can allow of it either riding
or walking on horseback or walking going in a Carriage
would be of service to her.
Dr. Sir your most obedt. Servt.
1778.
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