Cullen

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

 

[ID:4470] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Dr William Mitchell / Regarding: Mr Alexander Wright (Patient) / 9 July 1779 / (Outgoing)

Reply headed 'Dr Mitchell C. Mr Wright', who has dropsy and discussing removing the fluid either by sweating or, if necessary, by surgical drainage.

Facsimile

There are 2 images for this document.

[Page 1]


 

[Page 2]


 
 

Metadata

FieldData
DOC ID 4470
RCPE Catalogue Number CUL/1/1/12/37
Main Language English
Document Direction Outgoing
Date9 July 1779
Annotation None
TypeScribal copy ( includes Casebook Entry)
Enclosure(s) No enclosure(s)
Autopsy No
Recipe No
Regimen No
Letter of Introduction No
Case Note No
Summary Reply headed 'Dr Mitchell C. Mr Wright', who has dropsy and discussing removing the fluid either by sweating or, if necessary, by surgical drainage.
Manuscript Incomplete? No
Evidence of Commercial Posting No

Case

Cases that this document belongs to:

Case ID Description Num Docs
[Case ID:1106]
Case of Mr Alexander Wright who has an oedema (dropsy), manifest as fluid retention in his abdomen attributed to his habitual heavy drinking.
4


People linked to this document

Person IDRole in documentPerson
[PERS ID:1]AuthorDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:2622]AddresseeDr William Mitchell
[PERS ID:2723]PatientMr Alexander Wright
[PERS ID:1]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:2622]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr William Mitchell

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 Dundee East Highlands Scotland Europe certain

Normalized Text

[Page 1]
Dr Mitchell Concerning Mr Wright.


I am concerned for the obstinacy of your
Patients disease but not much surprised at it.
Altho the remedies you have employed were the
most promising this is not the first case in
which they have disapointed us. I am of your
opinion that in this case our Diuretics may be
impotent and that Drastic Purgatives can hardly
be employed. I shall therefore say nothing more
about them but leave it entirely with your good
judgement to employ them or let them alone as
circumstances may suggest and in the meantime
shall nor propose another course to you.


We have lately had several successful experiments
in the Care of the Dropsy by sweating, excited by Dovers
Powder
and I think you may safely try it with Mr
Wright.


For the management of this process I dare say
I need not offer you any directions you will begin
with a moderate dose of fifteen or twenty grains
at first giving it in the morning and continuing
the sweat thro' the day. with as little external
heat as can answer the purpose. The practice
if the Patient bears it tolerably must be repeated
several times, at the interval of one two or three days
more or less frequntly as your trials shall direct.


The Paracentisis promises no call Cure and as I
think is only to be practiced for a little temperary
relief in very urgent cases and then too with a great



[Page 2]

deal of hazard.


with regard to drawing off the Water from the
legs it may be practised with more safety and
advantage. but I think it can be done by punctures
of a sharp pointed Lancet, better then by the ScarĀ¬
ificator
- but this I leave to your discretion and
have only to say two things, first, that you will
probably try the Sweating Course, before you proceed
to the Scarification and secondly that in a bad habit
you will beware of the Erysipelus and its conseque
consequences which you seem to be acquainted
with - but I have said more than eneough to you
&c &c

William Cullen

Edinburgh July 9th
1779

Diplomatic Text

[Page 1]
Dr Mitchell C Mr Wright.


I am concerned for the obstinacy of your
Patients disease but not much surprised at it.
Altho the remedies you have employed were the
most promising this is not the first case in
which they have disapointed us. I am of your
opinion that in this case our Diuretics may be
impotent and that Drastic Purgatives can hardly
be employed. I shall therefore say nothing more
about them but leave it entirely w your good
judgement to employ them or let them alone as
circumstances may suggest and in the meantime
shall nor propose another course to you.


We have lately had several successful experiments
in the Care of the Dropsy by sweating, excited by Dovers
Powder
and I think you may safely try it with Mr
Wright.


For the management of this process I dare say
I need not offer you any directions you will begin
with a moderate dose of fifteen or twenty grains
at first giving it in the morning and continuing
the sweat thro' the day. with as little external
heat as can answer the purpose. The practice
if the Patient bears it tolerably must be repeated
several times, at the interval of one two or three days
more or less frequntly as your trials shall direct.


The Paracentisis promises no call Cure and as I
think is only to be practiced for a little temperary
relief in very urgent cases and then too with a great



[Page 2]

deal of hazard.


with regard to drawing off the Water from the
legs it may be practised with more safety and
advantage. but I think it can be done by punctures
of a sharp pointed Lancet, better then by the ScarĀ¬
ificator
- but this I leave to your discretion and
have only to say two things, first, that you will
probably try the Sweating Course, before you proceed
to the Scarification and secondly that in a bad habit
you will beware of the Erysipelus and its conseque
consequences which you seem to be acquainted
with - but I have said more than eneough to you
&c &c

William Cullen

Edinr July 9th
1779

XML

XML file not yet available.

Feedback

Send us specfic feeback about this document [DOC ID:4470]

Type
Comments
 

Please note that the Cullen Project team have now disbanded but your comments will be logged in our system and we will look at them one day...