Cullen

The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh

 

[ID:4365] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: John Ravenscroft / Regarding: Miss Miller (Millar) (Patient) / 20 January 1779 / (Outgoing)

Reply for John Ravenscroft headed 'For Miss Miller', who has a weakened constitution and is prescribed two recipes, a laxative and an electuary .

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Metadata

FieldData
DOC ID 4365
RCPE Catalogue Number CUL/1/1/11/103
Main Language English
Document Direction Outgoing
Date20 January 1779
Annotation None
TypeAuthorial original
Enclosure(s) No enclosure(s)
Autopsy No
Recipe Yes
Regimen No
Letter of Introduction No
Case Note No
Summary Reply for John Ravenscroft headed 'For Miss Miller', who has a weakened constitution and is prescribed two recipes, a laxative and an electuary .
Manuscript Incomplete? No
Evidence of Commercial Posting No

Case

Cases that this document belongs to:

Case ID Description Num Docs
[Case ID:615]
Case of Miss Millar who is suffering from various symptoms since beginning a 'starving course'. Under care of Dr Walker in 1779, but she is refered again to Cullen by Dr Ravenscroft in 1779.
4


People linked to this document

Person IDRole in documentPerson
[PERS ID:1]AuthorDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:2538]Addressee John Ravenscroft
[PERS ID:2539]PatientMiss Miller (Millar)
[PERS ID:2538]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary John Ravenscroft
[PERS ID:1]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)

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 Cairnsmoor (Cairnsmore) Borders Scotland Europe inferred

Normalized Text

[Page 1]
For Miss Miller


You have given me a very difficult task to repair
a bad constitution originally weak & rendered worse by the
long continuance of ailments. It is unfavourable too that she
does not bear either Opiates or Antispasmodics which we
should otherwise have thought of as remedies but notwithstanding these grounds of despair we must do what we can.


My general ↑my general↑ plan would be Tonics to give what
firmness we can to the Nervous system in general & to the
Stomach in particular & the same are the only remedies
that have any chance of restoring the suppressed or very much
diminished menstruation
. During this we must be careful
to prevent costiveness. The only tonic I can expect her
stomach to bear at present is the Tinct. Mart. made after
our Last Dispensatory 1 , to be taken 2, 3, or 4 times a day.
Let her take it in plain water, cold if her stomach can bear
it or if not, a very little warmed & taking care that the bulk
of water taken at once be what is likely to sit easy. The
quantity of Tincture must be proportioned to the bulk of
water she can take and it may be from five to ten drops
of Tincture to an ounce of water. Increase the doses only
by degrees. With this, exercise, fresh air, & cold¬
bathing. The first you may attempt immediately in a
carriage as her strength & the weather will allow.
The other must be delayed till the approach of summer
& must then be brought on gradually. If you succeed with
the Chalybeate you may get her Stomach to bear a
little bark, & in however small doses it may be necessary,
you should try it in substance. I expect little or nothing
from any other bitters. For keeping her belly regular try
one or other of the following

Take a drachm of Aloes, fifteen grams of Gamboge, ten grams of Calomel, half a drachm of Extract of gentian, enough simple syrup to make a mass to divide into pills of five grams each. Label Laxative pills one, two or three for a dose at bed time.

Take an ounce of tartar, two drachms powder of composite jalop, half an ounce of lenitive electuary, enough simple syrup to make a mild Electuary. Label Laxative Electuary, a teaspoonful or two for a dose in the morning If you use this, take care that the composite powder be very well triturated & I think that a little of this Electuary taken every morning for some days together is a likely medicine to overcome her costive habit.

Edinburgh January 20.th 1779.
W. C.

Notes:

1: See Pharmacopoeia Collegii Regii Medicorum Edinburgensis (Edinburgh: 1774), p.79.

Diplomatic Text

[Page 1]
For Miss Miller


You have given me a very difficult task to repair
a bad constitution originally weak & rendered worse by the
long continuance of ailments. It is unfavourable too that she
does not bear either Opiates or Antispasmodics which we
should otherwise have thought of as remedies but notwith¬
standg these grounds of despair we must do what we can.


My general ↑my general↑ plan would be Tonics to give what
firmness we can to the Nervous system in general & to the
Stomach in particular & the same are the only remedies
that have any chance of restoring the suppressed or very much
diminished menstruation
. During this we must be careful
to prevent costiveness. The only tonic I can expect her
stomach to bear at present is the Tinct. Mart. made after
our Last Dispensatory 1 , to be taken 2, 3, or 4 times a day.
Let her take it in plain water, cold if her stomach can bear
it or if not, a very little warmed & taking care that the bulk
of water taken at once be what is likely to sit easy. The
quantity of Tincture must be proportioned to the bulk of
water she can take and it may be from five to ten drops
of Tincture to an ounce of water. Increase the doses only
by degrees. With this, exercise, fresh air, & cold¬
bathing. The first you may attempt immediately in a
carriage as her strength & the weather will allow.
The other must be delayed till the approach of summer
& must then be brought on gradually. If you succeed w
the Chalybeate you may get her Stomach to bear a
little bark, & in however small doses it may be necessary,
you should try it in substance. I expect little or nothing
from any other bitters. For keeping her belly regular try
one or other of the follow.g


Aloes socot. Ʒj Gambog. gr. xv. Calomel gr. x
Extr. gent. Ʒſs Syr. simpl. q. s. ut f. m. div. in p. s. gr. v. Lax. pills one, two or
three for a dose at bed time.


Cryst. tart. ℥j Pulv. e jal. comp. Ʒij Elect. lenit. ℥ſs
Syr. simpl. q. s. ut f. Elect. tenue. S. Lax. Elect. a teasp:ful or two for a dose in ye morn.g
If you use this, take care that the Pulv. comp. be very well triturated & I think that a
little of this Elect. taken every morning for some days together is a likely medicine to
overcome her costive habit.

Ed.r Jan.y 20.th 1779.
W. C.

Notes:

1: See Pharmacopoeia Collegii Regii Medicorum Edinburgensis (Edinburgh: 1774), p.79.

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