The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:4624] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Mr Blackwell / Regarding: Mr Blackwell (Patient) / 4 May 1783 / (Outgoing)
Reply, 'Mr Blackwell'
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 9 images for this document.
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Metadata
Field | Data |
---|---|
DOC ID | 4624 |
RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/16/29 |
Main Language | English |
Document Direction | Outgoing |
Date | 4 May 1783 |
Annotation | None |
Type | Machine scribal copy |
Enclosure(s) | Enclosure(s) present |
Autopsy | No |
Recipe | Yes |
Regimen | No |
Letter of Introduction | No |
Case Note | No |
Summary | Reply, 'Mr Blackwell' |
Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
---|---|---|
[Case ID:1571] |
Case of Mr Blackwell whose is advised on using electicity and warm bathing to ease a weak leg. |
2 |
People linked to this document
Person ID | Role in document | Person |
---|---|---|
[PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
[PERS ID:3097] | Addressee | Mr Blackwell |
[PERS ID:3097] | Patient | Mr Blackwell |
[PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr 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 |
Mentioned / Other | Arran | Western Isles | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
Mr Blackwell
I have at length sat down to consider your
Case, and have done it by repeated readings & much attention.
It is now of long standing and resisted many remedies, so that
it must now be difficult to cure. That your Limb can
be restored to its former strength and ease of motion I
believe is impossible, but I hope it may be relieved from
pain and made to bear motion, much better than at
present, and for this purpose give you the following
opinion and advice.
I am clearly of opinion that you have been very
much hurt by cold bathing and think that every
thing of that kind should be now laid aside & therefore
that there is no occasion for your going to Arran, or
to any place on the Sea Coast. I am clear that for the
Summer your health will be better in the Country
[Page 2]
than in Town & you may chuse any place where
you may have good lodging, & for a purpose I shall
mention presently smooth road.
Tho I think it possible that warm bathing may
be of Service to you I think it is a little uncertain
& think at least it is likely that bathing your whole
body might do harm & therefore am clear that there
is no occasion or propriety in your going to Bath; as
every thing that can be attempted in this way can be as
well done at home.
I am clear for your continuing the Application of
Electricity & for that purpose you should be provided
with an Apparatus of your own, which may be
easily transported wherever you please, and such
an Apparatus can be procured from this place
at a very moderate expense. I am of opinion that
taking Sparks either from your haunch or knee
[Page 3]
can be of very little Service & that therefore you need not
lose time upon it. It is especially Shocks that can do you
any good, but at the same time very strong Shocks
might do you harm, & therefore I advise them to be
very moderate, but employed to the number from ten
to twenty twice every day; taking care also to confine
them to the left Limb making them enter by the
haunch & Issue at the foot. The only other mode of
application I would propose is that when you are Insu¬
lated you should have the Electricity drawn off from
your foot by a fine point, for the Space of half an hour,
immediately after the Shocks have been employed.
Please take notice if it shall happen that soon after the
Electricity shall have been employed, your Limb
grows cold, you must Study to find whether this
seems to happen from the Application of Electricity
being either too much or too little, which you may
determine by varying the degree of it and mind
[Page 4]
that, that degree of it, which longest preserves the heat of
your Limb is the most proper.
When you are thus employing Electricity, I am for
your making a trial of Warm bathing. Let a Shallow
bathing Tub of an oblong form be provided in which you
may Sit with your Limb Stretched out before you. If
it is uneasy to have them entirely in a horizontal Situ¬
ation you may have a Cushion to sit on and raise
you up so that your Knee joint may be bended and
your Limbs hang down a little. In this Situation
the Bath should cover you only to a little above your
Haunches. Let the Bath be near to the human heat
or if you can bear it a little more. You must sit in it for
about ten or fifteen minutes only while it still retains
its heat & during all that time, let another persons
hand be employed to rub constantly but gently the whole
of your left Limb from the Haunch to the foot. This
[Page 5]
Bathing I would have employed about 6 o'Clock in the
Evening, & only every other day. After coming out of the
Bath let your Limbs be very well dried with course
Towels. Put on your flannels & warm cloathing, & in
about an hour after take your Evening Dose of
Electricity. As I have said above I am uncertain what
may be the effects of this Bathing but I expect much
good from it & unless you shall find it manifestly
hurtful, I disire you will consider that no remedy what¬
ever can be of Service to you, but after being continued
for a pretty long time.
With both these remedys of Electricity & Bathing
you may and should continue the use of dry rubbing
with flannel or flesh brush, as you have hitherto
done, but I am ready to think the only proper time to
be in the morning before you get out of Bed, and not
{illeg} at night
[Page 6]
Both for the sake of the Limb & for your general health
which is of great consequence to your Limb, I would
earnestly wish to put you ↑in↑ exercise, but going a little
way in a Cart, will do little Service, & rowing a Boat
appears to one a great deal too violent. The exercise I
would recommend is that of a Single horse Chaise which
you drive yourself. In this you may give your
Limb what Situation you find easiest for it, for in
dry weather in Summer the Apron of the Chaise need
not be taken up, while your Limb may be otherwise
Sufficiently covered. If you can take to this exercise
on tolerably Smooth roads, I am persuaded you will
be greatly the better for it. If you cannot take it long
at one time, you should take it for a long as you can
bear it several times a day.
These are the remedies that I chiefly depend upon
[Page 7]
for your recovery & if you ply them diligently during the
Summer I hope against Winter you may do what you
please.
I am very much of your opinion that your gen¬
eral health is of consequence to the state of your Limb
& as well as I can judge of the former & present State of your
constitution I think you may be the better for Some
Strengthening medicines, & what I think will answer
best I have prescribed in the paper inclosed. You may
take them for two or three weeks together, but then
you should intermit them for a fortnight & after
that you may repeat a Second course of them.
Your Diet may indeed by of some consequence, but
at present what you take Seems to be sufficiently pro¬
per. It is sufficiently full & making it lower would an¬
swer no good purpose, at least I cannot perceive on what
grounds any of your Doctors would advise a low
[Page 8]
Diet for you. When you can admit of it, amusement will
always be of service to you.
I have advised no Application to any part of your
Limb, because I doubt if any can be usefull, but if at any
time your Knee should become very painfull & at
the same time without Redness you may bath it with
a Strong brine made of one part of salt & for parts
of Water making the brine as warm as you can easily
bear it & apply it by Cloths dipped in it for two or three
minutes at a time. You may repeat it at times when
pains return according to the effects you shall find.
I have now given you as full an advice as I can &
could not have given it so well if I had done it Sooner.
Wishing you heartily Success I am
Edinburgh May 5th
1783
[Page 9]
For Mr Blackwell
Take ten grains of Iron Filings, five grains of powdered Cinnamon and fifteen grains of white Sugar. Mix to form a powder at take a dose of twenty-eight in an emergency. Label: Strengthining Powders, one to be taken in a little currant Jelly twice a day washing down each dose with two tablespoonfuls of the following.
Take two ounces of Tincture of Peruvian bark, one ounce each of Tincture of Bitters and Aromatic Tincture, and four ounces each of Pure cinnamon Water, peppermint Water and rose Water. Mix and Label: Strengthening Tincture, two tablespoonfuls to be taken after every dose of the powders.
4th May
1783.
Diplomatic Text
Mr Blackwell
I have at length sat down to consider your
Case, and have done it by repeated readings & much attention.
It is now of long standing and resisted many remedies, so that
it must now be difficult to cure. That your Limb can
be restored to its former strength and ease of motion I
believe is impossible, but I hope it may be relieved from
pain and made to bear motion, much better than at
present, and for this purpose give you the following
opinion and advice.
I am clearly of opinion that you have been very
much hurt by cold bathing and think that every
thing of that kind should be now laid aside & therefore
that there is no occasion for your going to Arran, or
to any place on the Sea Coast. I am clear that for the
Summer your health will be better in the Country
[Page 2]
than in Town & you may chuse any place where
you may have good lodging, & for a purpose I shall
mention presently smooth road.
Tho I think it possible that warm bathing may
be of Service to you I think it is a little uncertain
& think at least it is likely that bathing your whole
body might do harm & therefore am clear that there
is no occasion or propriety in your going to Bath; as
every thing that can be attempted in this way can be as
well done at home.
I am clear for your continuing the Application of
Electricity & for that purpose you should be provided
with an Apparatus of your own, which may be
easily transported wherever you please, and such
an Apparatus can be procured from this place
at a very moderate expense. I am of opinion that
taking Sparks either from your haunch or knee
[Page 3]
can be of very little Service & that therefore you need not
lose time upon it. It is especially Shocks that can do you
any good, but at the same time very strong Shocks
might do you harm, & therefore I advise them to be
very moderate, but employed to the number from ten
to twenty twice every day; taking care also to confine
them to the left Limb making them enter by the
haunch & Issue at the foot. The only other mode of
application I would propose is that when you are Insu¬
lated you should have the Electricity drawn off from
your foot by a fine point, for the Space of half an hour,
immediately after the Shocks have been employed.
Please take notice if it shall happen that soon after the
Electricity shall have been employed, your Limb
grows cold, you must Study to find whether this
seems to happen from the Application of Electricity
being either too much or too little, which you may
determine by varying the degree of it and mind
[Page 4]
that, that degree of it, which longest preserves the heat of
your Limb is the most proper.
When you are thus employing Electricity, I am for
your making a trial of Warm bathing. Let a Shallow
bathing Tub of an oblong form be provided in which you
may Sit with your Limb Stretched out before you. If
it is uneasy to have them entirely in a horizontal Situ¬
ation you may have a Cushion to sit on and raise
you up so that your Knee joint may be bended and
your Limbs hang down a little. In this Situation
the Bath should cover you only to a little above your
Haunches. Let the Bath be near to the human heat
or if you can bear it a little more. You must sit in it for
about ten or fifteen minutes only while it still retains
its heat & during all that time, let another persons
hand be employed to rub constantly but gently the whole
of your left Limb from the Haunch to the foot. This
[Page 5]
Bathing I would have employed about 6 o'Clock in the
Evening, & only every other day. After coming out of the
Bath let your Limbs be very well dried with course
Towels. Put on your flannels & warm cloathing, & in
about an hour after take your Evening Dose of
Electricity. As I have said above I am uncertain what
may be the effects of this Bathing but I expect much
good from it & unless you shall find it manifestly
hurtful, I disire you will consider that no remedy what¬
ever can be of Service to you, but after being continued
for a pretty long time.
With both these remedys of Electricity & Bathing
you may and should continue the use of dry rubbing
with flannel or flesh brush, as you have hitherto
done, but I am ready to think the only proper time to
be in the morning before you get out of Bed, and not
{illeg} at night
[Page 6]
Both for the sake of the Limb & for your general health
which is of great consequence to your Limb, I would
earnestly wish to put you ↑in↑ exercise, but going a little
way in a Cart, will do little Service, & rowing a Boat
appears to one a great deal too violent. The exercise I
would recommend is that of a Single horse Chaise which
you drive yourself. In this you may give your
Limb what Situation you find easiest for it, for in
dry weather in Summer the Apron of the Chaise need
not be taken up, while your Limb may be otherwise
Sufficiently covered. If you can take to this exercise
on tolerably Smooth roads, I am persuaded you will
be greatly the better for it. If you cannot take it long
at one time, you should take it for a long as you can
bear it several times a day.
These are the remedies that I chiefly depend upon
[Page 7]
for your recovery & if you ply them diligently during the
Summer I hope against Winter you may do what you
please.
I am very much of your opinion that your gen¬
eral health is of consequence to the state of your Limb
& as well as I can judge of the former & present State of your
constitution I think you may be the better for Some
Strengthening medicines, & what I think will answer
best I have prescribed in the paper inclosed. You may
take them for two or three weeks together, but then
you should intermit them for a fortnight & after
that you may repeat a Second course of them.
Your Diet may indeed by of some consequence, but
at present what you take Seems to be sufficiently pro¬
per. It is sufficiently full & making it lower would an¬
swer no good purpose, at least I cannot perceive on what
grounds any of your Doctors would advise a low
[Page 8]
Diet for you. When you can admit of it, amusement will
always be of service to you.
I have advised no Application to any part of your
Limb, because I doubt if any can be usefull, but if at any
time your Knee should become very painfull & at
the same time without Redness you may bath it with
a Strong brine made of one part of salt & for parts
of Water making the brine as warm as you can easily
bear it & apply it by Cloths dipped in it for two or three
minutes at a time. You may repeat it at times when
pains return according to the effects you shall find.
I have now given you as full an advice as I can &
could not have given it so well if I had done it Sooner.
Wishing you heartily Success I am
Edinr. May 5th
1783
[Page 9]
For Mr Blackwell
℞ Limatur. Mart. ppt. gr. x
Cinnam. pulv. gr. v
Sacchar. alb. gr. xv.
ℳ. f. pulvis et f. h. m. dos. № xxviij
Signa Strengthening Powders one to be taken in a
little currant Jelly twice a day washing down each
dose with two table Spoonfuls of the following.
℞ Tinct. cortic. Peruv. ℥ij
-- amar.
-- arom. @ ℥j
Aq. cinnam. Simpl.
-- menth. pip.
-- rosar. @ ℥iv
ℳ Sig. Strengthening Tincture two table Spoonfulls
to be taken after every dose of the powders.
4th May
1783.
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