The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:4715] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Dr James Hamilton / Regarding: Mr Alexander? Drysdale (Patient) / 22 September 1783 / (Outgoing)
Reply, 'Mr Drysdale'. Cullen apologises for his delay in replying. He does not recommend the use of mercury, but supports the use of cicuta and bark. He recommends a voyage to Madeira. Cullen's response to Hamilton's prayers for him is expressed diplomatically: 'I assure you my wishes for your welfare are very correct but not trusting to the efficacy for my application I do not pray as you do'.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 3 images for this document.
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Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 4715 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/16/119 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 22 September 1783 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Machine scribal copy |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply, 'Mr Drysdale'. Cullen apologises for his delay in replying. He does not recommend the use of mercury, but supports the use of cicuta and bark. He recommends a voyage to Madeira. Cullen's response to Hamilton's prayers for him is expressed diplomatically: 'I assure you my wishes for your welfare are very correct but not trusting to the efficacy for my application I do not pray as you do'. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:648] |
Case of Mr Drysdale declining from a feverish chest complaint and 'a putrid ulcer in his chest'. |
7 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:812] | Addressee | Dr James Hamilton |
| [PERS ID:3001] | Patient | Mr Alexander? Drysdale |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:812] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr James Hamilton |
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 | Dunbar | Borders | Scotland | Europe | inferred | |
| Therapeutic Recommendation | Madeira | Spain | Europe | certain | ||
| Mentioned / Other | London | London and South-East | England | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
Mr Drysdale
I dont know by what a train of accidents I
have been prevented from answering your letter con¬
cerning Mr. Drysdale but I assure you it is not
for want of an earnest desire to show attention
both to him and you.
I set down at length and must say in
the first place that I am sorry for your opinion
of the Case because I am afraid it is too well
founded but at the same time I must say that
you have always been more forward than in that
opinion than I could be. I believe you may
have more reason than I know of for supposing
his disease to have arisen from Scrophula but
the supposition is not improbable and upon
that account I was against the use of Mercury
which I think does harm in all Scrophulous
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cases and has done harm in all the many cases of
Phthisis in which I have seen it employed. I
have no objection at all to the Cicuta and not a
great deal to the moderate use of the bark but
I was against every medicine that might divert
from the most effectual remedy a Journey or
a Voyage. I am glad to find you agreeing with
me with respect to the latter and I think your
proposal of Madeira extremely proper and if
he can agree to it I should propose no other remedy.
In the mean time I did not ↑immediately↑ answer your letter
because I supposed that he had then sailed for
London and that my answer would come time
enough against his return. I suppose this may
have now happened and if you will be so
good as to let me know how the Sailing
has turned out with him I shall then
[Page 3]
immediately answer you and advise more
pointedly.
I assure you my wishes for your welfare are
very correct but not trusting to the efficacy for my
application I do not pray as you do Believe
me however to be sincerely
your most faithful and most Obedient servant
1783
Diplomatic Text
Mr Drysdale
I dont know by what a train of accidents I
have been prevented from answering your letter con¬
cerning Mr. Drysdale but I assure you it is not
for want of an earnest desire to show attention
both to him and you.
I set down at length and must say in
the first place that I am sorry for your opinion
of the Case because I am afraid it is too well
founded but at the same time I must say that
you have always been more forward than in that
opinion than I could be. I believe you may
have more reason than I know of for supposing
his disease to have arisen from Scrophula but
the supposition is not improbable and upon
that account I was against the use of Mercury
which I think does harm in all Scrophulous
[Page 2]
cases and has done harm in all the many cases of
Phthisis in which I have seen it employed. I
have no objection at all to the Cicuta and not a
great deal to the moderate use of the bark but
I was against every medicine that might divert
from the most effectual remedy a Journey or
a Voyage. I am glad to find you agreeing with
me with respect to the latter and I think your
proposal of Madeira extremely proper and if
he can agree to it I should propose no other remedy.
In the mean time I did not ↑immediately↑ answer your letter
because I supposed that he had then sailed for
London and that my answer would come time
enough against his return. I suppose this may
have now happened and if you will be so
good as to let me know how the Sailing
has turned out with him I shall then
[Page 3]
immediately answer you and advise more
pointedly.
I assure you my wishes for your welfare are
very correct but not trusting to the efficacy for my
application I do not pray as you do Believe
me however to be sincerely
your most faithful and most Obedt. servant
1783
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