Cullen

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

 

[ID:439] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: [ADDRESSEE UNKNOWN] / Regarding: [A matter not directly regarding a patient] / August? 1771? / (Outgoing)

Reply for an unnamed gentleman from Shetland. Mentions an enclosed recipe but this was not recorded in the casebook.

Facsimile

There are 2 images for this document.

[Page 1]


 

[Page 2]


 
 

Metadata

FieldData
DOC ID 439
RCPE Catalogue Number CUL/1/1/3/22
Main Language English
Document Direction Outgoing
DateAugust? 1771?
Annotation None
TypeScribal copy ( includes Casebook Entry)
Enclosure(s) Enclosure(s) mentioned, but missing
Autopsy No
Recipe No
Regimen No
Letter of Introduction No
Case Note No
Summary Reply for an unnamed gentleman from Shetland. Mentions an enclosed recipe but this was not recorded in the casebook.
Manuscript Incomplete? No
Evidence of Commercial Posting No

Case

Cases that this document belongs to:

Case ID Description Num Docs
[Case ID:341]
Case of an unnamed male patient from Shetland who has a restricted gullet.
1


People linked to this document

Person IDRole in documentPerson
[PERS ID:1]AuthorDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:1]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:1259]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryMr Nicolson

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
Mentioned / Other Shetlands Scotland Europe certain

Normalized Text

[Page 1]
For in Shetland


Having considered the case laid before me by Mr. Nicolson, I am
of opinion that the disease is entirely seated in the gullet or what
we call the Oesophagus, and has very little connection with the sto¬
mach
or the rest of the body. I imagine the ailment consists in a
stricture of the gullet which will be difficult to cure, but I do not
think it absolutely incurable, and I am persuaded it can be very
much relieved. But for this purpose he must in the first
place make a great change in his manner of life. He must
not continue to expose himself to much fatigue or to the vicis¬
situdes of heat and cold as he has hitherto done, and particularly
he must avoid being cold and wet. At the same time he must
avoid strong drink and particularly spirits, for his ailments



[Page 2]

must be encreused with his being in the least heated with strong
drink of any kind. Under this regimen I hope our remedies may have
a chance to do service. His first care must be to keep his throat warm,
and for this purpose let him wear two slips of plaister spread pretty
thick on linnen laid on each side of his windpipe from theLarynx
down to the Sternum. The most proper plaister is the Antihy¬
stericum, and it should be fresh spread from time to time. The
upper part of his throat should also constantly be kept warm by a
piece of flannel laid from ear to ear so as to cover the corner
of his jaws. Let him farther make use of the Electuary ordered
on the other page. He should take so much of it every morning
as to make his belly regular. With all this let him avoid swallowing
any thing, which by its dryness, firmness, or bulk give an irritation
to his gullet. When he desires to take any food let him always
begin with some moderately warm liquid, and after some mouth¬
fuls of this let him try bread soaked in the liquor, and having
thus by degrees dilated his gullet he may proceed to some¬
thing more solid. Till he can bear these, warm milk ↑will↑ both
be most easily swallowed and give proper nourishment.

Diplomatic Text

[Page 1]
For in Shetland


Having considered the case laid before me by Mr. Nicolson, I am
of opinion that the disease is entirely seated in the gullet or what
we call the Oesophagus, and has very little connection with the sto¬
mach
or the rest of the body. I imagine the ailment consists in a
stricture of the gullet which will be difficult to cure, but I do not
think it absolutely incurable, and I am persuaded it can be very
much relieved. But for this purpose he must in the first
place make a great change in his manner of life. He must
not continue to expose himself to much fatigue or to the vicis¬
situdes of heat and cold as he has hitherto done, and particularly
he must avoid being cold and wet. At the same time he must
avoid strong drink and particularly spirits, for his ailments



[Page 2]

must be encreused with his being in the least heated with strong
drink of any kind. Under this regimen I hope our remedies may have
a chance to do service. His first care must be to keep his throat warm,
and for this purpose let him wear two slips of plaister spread pretty
thick on linnen laid on each side of his windpipe from theLarynx
down to the Sternum. The most proper plaister is the Antihy¬
stericum, and it should be fresh spread from time to time. The
upper part of his throat should also constantly be kept warm by a
piece of flannel laid from ear to ear so as to cover the corner
of his jaws. Let him farther make use of the Electuary ordered
on the other page. He should take so much of it every morning
as to make his belly regular. With all this let him avoid swallowing
any thing, which by its dryness, firmness, or bulk give an irritation
to his gullet. When he desires to take any food let him always
begin with some moderately warm liquid, and after some mouth¬
fuls of this let him try bread soaked in the liquor, and having
thus by degrees dilated his gullet he may proceed to some¬
thing more solid. Till he can bear these, warm milk ↑will↑ both
be most easily swallowed and give proper nourishment.

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