Cullen

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

 

[ID:4493] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: [ADDRESSEE UNKNOWN] / Regarding: Anonymous (Patient) / 25 August 1779 / (Outgoing)

Reply, 'Mr J. Johnston of Moffat C[oncerning] a Palsy'

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Metadata

FieldData
DOC ID 4493
RCPE Catalogue Number CUL/1/1/12/60
Main Language English
Document Direction Outgoing
Date25 August 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, 'Mr J. Johnston of Moffat C[oncerning] a Palsy'
Manuscript Incomplete? No
Evidence of Commercial Posting No

Case

Cases that this document belongs to:

Case ID Description Num Docs
[Case ID:1196]
Case of an unnamed patient who has a palsy, under the care of Mr J. Johnston of Moffat.
2


People linked to this document

Person IDRole in documentPerson
[PERS ID:1]AuthorDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:3121]Patient
[PERS ID:1]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:2440]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryMr James Johnston

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 Moffat Borders Scotland Europe inferred
Mentioned / Other Moffat Borders Scotland Europe certain

Normalized Text

[Page 1]
Mr J. Johnston of Moffat Concerning a Palsy.


Palsy at sixty years of age is commonly difficult to cure; but
as long as the senses and speach are tolerably entire, the disease is
less alarming and there is more hopes of relief. In the meantime
you need not be surprised that your remedies have not immediately
taken effect for this has happened with many other good Practiti¬
oners, & the Disease when is does yeild commonly does so, very strongly.


There is a remedy not always much employed, which however I
am much disposed to employ in all Plethoric habits, such
as your Patient seems to be. This is bloodletting, which I advise you to
employ pretty freely, & when you think your Patients Strength will
not admit of more being taken from the arm, you may find much benefit
from applying eight or ten Leeches to each temple, or if you can take
from four to eight ounces by a Cupping glass to each temple it will
still do better. - As I presume the disease to depend upon a con¬
siderable congestion in the vessels of the head, I hold purging pretty
largely to be an important remedy. From a Dram to a Dram
& a half of the Compound Powder of Jalap with from five to ten
grains of Calomel promise to be a good remedy & may be repeated
frequently, but if you dose, take care to avoid the Mercurys
affecting the mouth & therefore to diminish or withdraw the
Calomel while you increase the Compound Powder. While I
trust to bleeding and blistering (Purging) I do not omitt blistering & I dare
say you have not omitted it. Let me only observe, bleeding is
not to be employed at the time that blisters are operating.


I find very little benefit from any internal medicines.




[Page 2]


The most effectual however is the Volatile Alkali which you
may employ in a Mixture with a large proportion of the compound
tincture of Castor
; but take care that these medicines do not prove
healing or are given very freely, when from the frequency or
fullness of pulse
bleeding may seem necessary. When the
disease does not yeild pretty soon to the remedies I have
mentioned you may presume that it is ↑to↑ draw out to some length.


When Issues friction & perhaps Electricity may give some
relief. When the disease has continued sometime I would
allow of a trial of the Electricity, but it is never safe
when the head is much affected. It is especially of use when
the disease is much confined to the limbs & even then I take
care not to let the shocks pass through the head. - I have omitted to
say that I hold Camphire not to be a proper remedy in Palsy.

Edinburgh August 25th. 1779
WC.

Diplomatic Text

[Page 1]
Mr J. Johnston of Moffat C. a Palsy.


Palsy at sixty years of age is commonly difficult to cure; but
as long as the senses and speach are tolerably entire, the disease is
less alarming and there is more hopes of relief. In the meantime
you need not be surprised that your remedies have not immediately
taken effect for this has happened with many other good Practiti¬
oners, & ye Disease when is does yeild commonly does so, very strongly.


There is a remedy not always much employed, wc however I
am much disposed to employ in all Plethoric habits, such
as your Patient seems to be. This is bloodletting, wc I advise you to
employ pretty freely, & when you think your Patients Strength will
not admit of more being taken from the arm, you may find much benefit
from applying eight or ten Leeches to each temple, or if you can take
from four to eight ounces by a Cupping glass to each temple it will
still do better. - As I presume the disease to depend upon a con¬
siderable congestion in the vessels of the head, I hold purging pretty
largely to be an important remedy. From a Dram to a Dram
& a half of the Compound Powder of Jalap with from five to ten
grains of Calomel promise to be a good remedy & may be repeated
frequently, but if you dose, take care to avoid the Mercurys
affecting the mouth & therefore to diminish or withdraw the
Calomel while you increase the Compound Powder. While I
trust to bleeding and blistering (Purging) I do not omitt blistering & I dare
say you have not omitted it. Let me only observe, bleeding is
not to be employed at the time that blisters are operating.


I find very little benefit from any internal medicines.




[Page 2]


The most effectual however is the Volatile Alkali wc you
may employ in a Mixture with a large proportion of the compound
tincture of Castor
; but take care that these medicines do not prove
healing or are given very freely, when from the frequency or
fullness of pulse
bleeding may seem necessary. When the
disease does not yeild pretty soon to the remedies I have
mentioned you may presume that it is ↑to↑ draw out to some length.


When Issues friction & perhaps Electricity may give some
relief. When the disease has continued sometime I would
allow of a trial of the Electricity, but it is never safe
when the head is much affected. It is especially of use when
the disease is much confined to the limbs & even then I take
care not to let the shocks pass through the head. - I have omitted to
say that I hold Camphire not to be a proper remedy in Palsy.

Edinr Augt. 25th. 1779
WC.

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