The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:481] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Dr John Duncanson (Duncason) / Regarding: Mr (Patient), Mrs (Patient) / 7 April 1773 / (Outgoing)
Reply 'To Dr Duncason at Inverary', regarding a suspected case of gonorrhoea in a man whose wife is not to be informed unless she starts to report 'positive symptoms' in herself as well. Incoming enquiry untraced (perhaps destroyed?).
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- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
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Facsimile
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Metadata
Field | Data |
---|---|
DOC ID | 481 |
RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/3/58 |
Main Language | English |
Document Direction | Outgoing |
Date | 7 April 1773 |
Annotation | None |
Type | Scribal copy ( includes Casebook Entry) |
Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
Autopsy | No |
Recipe | No |
Regimen | No |
Letter of Introduction | No |
Case Note | No |
Summary | Reply 'To Dr Duncason at Inverary', regarding a suspected case of gonorrhoea in a man whose wife is not to be informed unless she starts to report 'positive symptoms' in herself as well. Incoming enquiry untraced (perhaps destroyed?). |
Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
---|---|---|
[Case ID:414] |
Case of an unnamed man suspected of having gonorrhea. |
1 |
[Case ID:2467] |
Case of an unnamed female patient whose husband may have gonorrhoea. |
1 |
People linked to this document
Person ID | Role in document | Person |
---|---|---|
[PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
[PERS ID:310] | Addressee | Dr John Duncanson (Duncason) |
[PERS ID:1442] | Patient | Mr |
[PERS ID:1443] | Patient | Mrs |
[PERS ID:310] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr John Duncanson (Duncason) |
[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 |
Destination of Letter | Inveraray | West Highlands | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
To Dr Duncason at Inverary.
It is not easy to be positive in the matter you write of but from your
account I am much disposed to believe that there has been no infection in the case. As
there is no other symptom in the man but a very slight oozing from the Urethra
& that without appearance of any inflammation about its orifice or any inflammation
or swelling of the >frenum or prepuce & absolutely without any heat of urine I cannot
believe the case from infection at least I never saw any such. However as peoples fears
are not easily quieted on such occasions I think you was right in taking the
safest side & giving him medecines but I cannot help observing that tho the
infection & gonorrhea in consequence were real you were purging too much
This is enough with regard to the man & with regard to the woman I must say
that unless some more positive symptoms appear in the man before this comes to hand
& also that the woman herself complains I would not in her present situation
disturb her mind & perhaps the peace of the family without an absolute necessity
The appearance on her shirt may be a common accident & if it was otherwise
she would probably take notice of it herself. In that till she complaints more there
can be no danger & when she does complain it is possible to give her such an opinion
as may save your saying any thing about what has happened to her husband.
I give you these prudential considerations but it may still happen that
there is a real infection & that the woman shall truly complain. In that
case I am of opinion that keeping the vagina clean & observing a cooling regi¬
men is all that is necessary. for the first washing & injecting with
Camomile Tea 2 or 3 times aday will answer the purpose. for the 2d indication
Let her abstain from meat & wine, avoid exercise as much as possible, take
powders of Nitric gr. x Gumm. Arabic. ʒj in a glass lbſs of water 3 or 4 times a day
& keep her belly open without purging. For this purpose the following Electuary
is convenient. ℞ Cryst. Tart. pulv. ℥j pulp. prun. Gall. ℥ſs syr. comm. q. s. ut f.
Electuarium tenue sive Lochoch. Capiat quotidie mane a ʒj ad ʒiv 1
The Electuary should be made so thin that in a tea spoon it will hardly heap
& then the dose may be from one to 4 tea spoonfulls. so as to give one stool every day.
This is the management necessary for a pregnant woman & it will always
answer in the case of a simpler gonorrhea. But if it shall happen that ulcerations
or chancres appear a mercurial applications will be necessary & to ulcerations which
appear externally upon the Labia you may apply the common ung. mercur.
but prepared according to our Dispensatory without turpentine & for the interior
parts you may inject with the following oils.
℞ Ung mercurial. ʒij
asside paulatin Ol. Oliv. opt. ℥iv terito probe ut bene commiseantur. 2
An ℥j of this may throw into the Vagina twice aday. Tho Buboes or other
symptoms of deeper infection should appear the internal use of mercury must be
avoided if possible till she is delivered & a little recovered but in case of any such
circumstances occurring I shall expect a particular information & shall advise
accordingly —
Edinburgh. 7 April.
1773.
Notes:
1: 'Take one ounce of Crystal Tartar powder, half an ounce of mashed French prunes and enough simple syrup in order to obtain a thin electuary, or lochoch. Take from one to four drachms every day in the morning.'
2: 'Take two drachms of mercurial Ointment and four ounces of the best Olive Oil. You will diligently beat them very well until properly blended.'
Diplomatic Text
To Dr Duncason at Inverary.
It is not easy to be positive in ye matter you write of but from your
account I am much disposed to believe yt yre has bn no infection in ye case. As
there is no other symptom in ye man but a very slight oozing from the Urethra
& yt witht appearance of any inflammation about its orifice or any inflammation
or swelling of ye >frenum or prepuce & absolutely without any heat of urine I cannot
believe the case from infection at least I never saw any such. However as peoples fears
are not easily quieted on such occasions I think you was right in taking the
safest side & giving him medecines but I cannot help observing that tho the
infection & gonorrhea in consequence were real you were purging too much
This is enough with regard to the man & wth regard to ye woman I must say
yt unless some more positive sympts appear in ye man before this comes to hand
& also that the woman herself complains I would not in her present situatn
disturb her mind & perhaps the peace of the family without an absolute necessity
The appearance on her shirt may be a common accident & if it was otherwise
she would probably take notice of it herself. In that till she comps more there
can be no danger & wn she does complain it is possible to give her such an opinion
as may save your saying any thing about what has happened to her husband.
I give you these prudential considerations but it may still happen that
there is a real infection & that the woman shall truly complain. In that
case I am of opinion that keeping the vagina clean & observing a cooling regi¬
men is all that is necessary. for the first washing & injecting with
Camomile Tea 2 or 3 times aday will answer the purpose. for the 2d indication
Let her abstain from meat & wine, avoid exercise as much as possible, take
powders of Nitric gr. x Gumm. Arabic. ʒj in a glass lbſs of water 3 or 4 times a day
& keep her belly open without purging. For this purpose the following Electuar.
is convent. ℞ Cryst. Tart. pulv. ℥j pulp. prun. Gall. ℥ſs syr. comm. q. s. ut f.
Electuarium tenue sive Lochoch. Capiat quotidie mane a ʒj ad ʒiv 1
The Electuar. should be made so thin that in a tea spoon it will hardly heap
& then the dose may be from one to 4 tea spoonfulls. so as to give one stool every day.
This is the management necessary for a pregnant woman & it will always
answer in the case of a simpler gonorrhea. But if it shall happen that ulceratns
or chancres appear a mercurial applications will be necessary & to ulcerations wch
appear externally upon the Labia you may apply the common ung. mercur.
but prepared according to our Dispensatory witht turpentine & for the interior
parts you may inject with the following oils.
℞ Ung mercurial. ʒij
asside paulatin Ol. Oliv. opt. ℥iv terito probe ut bene commiseantur. 2
An ℥j of ys may throw into the Vagina twice aday. Tho Bubs or other
sympts of deeper infection should appear ye internal use of mercury must be
avoided if possible till she is delivered & a little recovered but in case of any such
circumstances occurring I shall expect a particr. information & shall advise
accordingly —
Edinr. 7 April.
1773.
Notes:
1: 'Take one ounce of Crystal Tartar powder, half an ounce of mashed French prunes and enough simple syrup in order to obtain a thin electuary, or lochoch. Take from one to four drachms every day in the morning.'
2: 'Take two drachms of mercurial Ointment and four ounces of the best Olive Oil. You will diligently beat them very well until properly blended.'
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