The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:4320] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Mr / Regarding: Mrs Marion Cathcart (Buchan) (of Genoch and Knockdolian; Mrs Ross ) (Patient) / 25 September 1778 / (Outgoing)
Reply headed 'For Mrs Cathcart' who is advised to take regular cold baths to ease back pain after labour .
- 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 | 4320 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/11/58 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 25 September 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 headed 'For Mrs Cathcart' who is advised to take regular cold baths to ease back pain after labour . |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:959] |
Case of Mrs Cathcart who has back pain after labour, and corresponds with Cullen through her brother John Buchan, then situated in Edinburgh. |
5 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:5860] | Addressee | Mr |
| [PERS ID:2248] | Patient | Mrs Marion Cathcart (of Genoch and Knockdolian; Mrs Ross ) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:5860] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Mr |
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 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
For Mra Cathcart
I hope she has no ailment but the weakness of her back
which can be accounted for by the causes which preceded it. Such
a weakness is commonly obstinate but may be relieved by time
& pains. Cold bathing is the best remedy & therefore I ad¬
vise it to be constantly practised. Even in winter it may
[Page 2]
be employed every second or third day taking care that the
water be not taken from a river but from a spring or well
which is always of a more uniform temperature. The bathing
is always to be employed in the morning & in the evenings
after, let her back be gently anointed for about three or four
inches above and below the small of her back with the streng¬
thening spirits ordered below. Interval medicines can do little
& therefore I advise only one which as She is in general of
a delicate habit maybe of service. It is an Electuary of
which she will take the bigness of a hard nut every mor¬
ning before breakfast, soon after bathing.
It will be of service to her to have her back kept firm
& should wear always a bandage or belt & even a very firm
one with buckles before to tighten it more or less.
No particular diet is necessary but in general a
nourishing tho at the same time a light diet is the most
proper & at meals a glass or two of wine -----
Fresh air & exercise avoiding fatigue - avoid bodi¬
ly exercise. her walking must be very cautiously tried &
hardly without a staff or another's arm. Standing long on her
feet is bad for her. Cold may easily hurt her & therefore
be cautious of going abroad in winter. During that season
I know she lives in a very moist climate & there is a great
deal of marsh not far from her house. She should quit it
some months of winter for a drier situation.
℞ Sp.t vin. rectif.t ℥vi --- lavend. comp. ℥ij Camphor. Ʒij
ℳ. Signa Strengthening spirits for anointing the small of the back
for three or four inches upward & downwards every evening after she
has bathed in the morning.
Take six ounces of rectified alcohol, two ounces of composite lavender, two drachms of camphor;
Mix and label Strengthening spirits for anointing the small of the back for three or four inches upward & downwards every evening after she
has bathed in the morning.
℞ Pulv. rad. Valer. silv. ℥j -- cort. Peruv. ℥ſs -- cinnamom. Ʒij
Limat. mart. pp.t Ʒiſs Conserv. e cort. aurant. ℥j Syr. sinpl. q. s. ut
f. Electuarium. S. Strengthening Elec. the bigness of a hazel
nut to be taken in the morning soon after bathing.
Take an ounce of powdered root of wild Valerian -- half an ounce of Peruvian bark, two drachms of cinnamon,
prepare a drachm and a half of powdered steel, an ounce of conserve of orange peel, and enough simple syrup to
make an Electuary. Label: Strengthening Electuary, the bigness of a hazelnut to be taken in the morning soon after bathing.
Diplomatic Text
For Mra Cathcart
I hope she has no ailment but the weakness of her back
wc can be accounted for by the causes which preceded it. Such
a weakness is commonly obstinate but m. b. relieved by time
& pains. Cold bathing is the best remedy & therefore I ad¬
vise it to be constantly practised. Even in winter it may
[Page 2]
be employed every second or third day taking care that the
water be not taken from a river but from a spring or well
which is always of a more uniform temperature. The bathing
is always to be employed in the morning & in the evenings
after, let her back be gently anointed for about three or four
inches above and below the small of her back with the streng¬
thening spirits ordered below. Interval meds can do little
& therefore I advise only one which as She is in general of
a delicate habit maybe of service. It is an Electuary of
which she will take the bigness of a hard nut every mor¬
ning before breakfast, soon after bathing.
It will be of service to her to have her back kept firm
& should wear always a bandage or belt & even a very firm
one with buckles before to tighten it more or less.
No particular diet is necessary but in general a
nourishing tho at the same time a light diet is the most
proper & at meals a glass or two of wine -----
Fresh air & exercise avoiding fatigue - avoid bodi¬
ly exercise. her walking must be very cautiously tried &
hardly without a staff or another's arm. Standing long on her
feet is bad for her. Cold may easily hurt her & therefore
be cautious of going abroad in winter. During that season
I know she lives in a very moist climate & there is a great
deal of marsh not far from her house. She should quit it
some months of winter for a drier situation.
℞ Sp.t vin. rectif.t ℥vi --- lavend. comp. ℥ij Camphor. Ʒij
ℳ. Signa Strengthening spirits for anointing the small of the back
for three or four inches upward & downwards every evening after she
has bathed in the morning.
Take six ounces of rectified alcohol, two ounces of composite lavender, two drachms of camphor;
Mix and label Strengthening spirits for anointing the small of the back for three or four inches upward & downwards every evening after she
has bathed in the morning.
℞ Pulv. rad. Valer. silv. ℥j -- cort. Peruv. ℥ſs -- cinnamom. Ʒij
Limat. mart. pp.t Ʒiſs Conserv. e cort. aurant. ℥j Syr. sinpl. q. s. ut
f. Electuarium. S. Strengthening Elec. the bigness of a hazel
nut to be taken in the morning soon after bathing.
Take an ounce of powdered root of wild Valerian -- half an ounce of Peruvian bark, two drachms of cinnamon,
prepare a drachm and a half of powdered steel, an ounce of conserve of orange peel, and enough simple syrup to
make an Electuary. Label: Strengthening Electuary, the bigness of a hazelnut to be taken in the morning soon after bathing.
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