
The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:4580] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Dr John Govan (Gowan) / Regarding: Mr James Dalgliesh (of Scotscraig) (Patient) / 20 February 1780 / (Outgoing)
Reply, 'To Dr Govan C[oncerning] Mr Dalgliesh'. Cullen regards his condition as 'entirely Gouty'. He advises on the siting of issues and use of the fleshbrush. He advises on diet and gives a prescription, but 'I say nothing of Bath, till I hear from you again'.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 2 images for this document.

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Metadata
Field | Data |
---|---|
DOC ID | 4580 |
RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/12/147 |
Main Language | English |
Document Direction | Outgoing |
Date | 20 February 1780 |
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, 'To Dr Govan C[oncerning] Mr Dalgliesh'. Cullen regards his condition as 'entirely Gouty'. He advises on the siting of issues and use of the fleshbrush. He advises on diet and gives a prescription, but 'I say nothing of Bath, till I hear from you again'. |
Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
---|---|---|
[Case ID:1237] |
Case of Mr Dalgliesh of Scotscraig whose dyspepsia is attributed to gout. |
2 |
People linked to this document
Person ID | Role in document | Person |
---|---|---|
[PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
[PERS ID:678] | Addressee | Dr John Govan (Gowan) |
[PERS ID:679] | Patient | Mr James Dalgliesh (of Scotscraig) |
[PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
[PERS ID:678] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr John Govan (Gowan) |
[PERS ID:713] | Other Physician / Surgeon | Dr Thomas Sydenham |
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 | Cupar (Coupar / Coupar of Fife) | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | inferred | |
Mentioned / Other | Bath | South-West | England | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
To Dr Govan Concerning Mr Dalgliesh
Case Difficult, particularly from having resisted some of
the most proper and promising remedies ––
It is entirely Gouty & the present Atonic State you describe
has been frequently brought on by giving up strong drink and
accustomed Exercise – vid. Sydenham. –– Therefore apply a blister
to each ancle & keep them running for some time –– If you find
any relief from this & if at the same time the perpetual Issue
prove very troublesome, I would in place of it, put in a Pea Issue
below each knee –––– I hope the Issue will not interrupt his
taking exercise in a Carriage whichI would earnestly recommend,
and to take as much of it as he can possibly bear taking great care
to keep his feet and legs always warm – So far is it does not
interfere with the Issues, I recommend also the use of the flesh
brush to his thighs and legs every morning –– I would have
expected most from the Chalybeates especially when employed in large
Doses –––– I have frequently given the Powdered Steel to a Dram
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or even two Drams in the day. –– I doubt if his stomach can
bear large Doses at present & therefore I would only recommend
as strong & as frequent Doses of the Steel Tincture as he can bear ––
I have only one other Medicine to advise, if you have not already
employed it & that is to give the Vitriolic Acid sever several
times a day –– see below ––––
For Diet – I wish he could take some Animal food & even in
a solid form; but if that will not digest it, you may still employ
some strong broth & Calves feet Jelly. –– For the rest I am clear
he should take a trial of milk, & give it with an equal part
of water gruel & well sweetened with Sugar. – You need not fear
the Vitriolic Acid interfering with the milk –– Only let the Acid
be given an hour or two before his taking the milk –– With the
milk he may take bread or any of the Farinæcea you think he
can bear. –– For drink I recommend very entirely spirits and
water & I think the spirit may be used with some freedom
Very proper to keep the Belly open & I think the M Aloetic
the most promising –– While you employ the Vitriolic Acid you must
take care to give no other absorbents, but the Magnesia or a solution
of fixed Alkali
I say nothing of Bath, till I hear from you again ––––
Take 3 ounces of Rose water, Syrup of Dried Roses and Thin Vitriolic Spirit. Mix. Label: Stomachic Mixture a teaspoonfull to be taken in an ordinary Wine Glassfull of Water several times a day
Diplomatic Text
To Dr Govan C Mr Dalgliesh
Case Difficult, particularly from having resisted some of
the most proper and promising remedies ––
It is entirely Gouty & the present Atonic State you describe
has been frequently brought on by giving up strong drink and
accustomed Exercise – vid. Sydenham. –– Therefore apply a blister
to each ancle & keep them running for some time –– If you find
any relief from this & if at the same time the perpetual Issue
prove very troublesome, I would in place of it, put in a Pea Issue
below each knee –––– I hope the Issue will not interrupt his
taking exercise in a Carriage wcI would earnestly recommend,
and to take as much of it as he can possibly bear taking great care
to keep his feet and legs always warm – So far is it does not
interfere with the Issues, I recommend also the use of the flesh
brush to his thighs and legs every morning –– I would have
expected most from the Chalybeates especially when employed in large
Doses –––– I have frequently given the Limatura to a Dram
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or even two Drams in the day. –– I doubt if his stomach can
bear large Doses at present & therefore I would only recommend
as strong & as frequent Doses of the Tinct. Martis as he can bear ––
I have only one other Med. to advise, if you have not already
employed it & that is to give the Vitriolic Acid sever several
times a day –– see below ––––
For Diet – I wish he could take some Animal food & even in
a solid form; but if that will not digest it, you may still employ
some strong broth & Calves feet Jelly. –– For the rest I am clear
he should take a trial of milk, & give it with an equal part
of water gruel & well sweetened with Sugar. – You need not fear
the Vitriolic Acid interfering with the milk –– Only let the Acid
be given an hour or two before his taking the milk –– With the
milk he may take bread or any of the Farinæcea you think he
can bear. –– For drink I recommend very entirely spirits and
water & I think the spirit may be used with some freedom
Very proper to keep the Belly open & I think the M Aloetic
the most promising –– While you employ the V. Acid you must
take care to give no other absorbents, but the Magnesia or a solution
of fixed Alkali
I say nothing of Bath, till I hear from you again ––––
℞ Aq. rosar. ℥iij
Syr. e ros. sicc.
Spirt. vitriol. ten.
ℳ. Sig. Stomachic Mixture a teaspfull to be taken in
an ordinary Wine Glassfull of Water several times a day
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