The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:4845] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Dr George Hamilton / Regarding: Mr Robert Cathcart (of Genoch & Knockdolian) (Patient) / June? 1784? / (Outgoing)
Reply, for 'Mr Cathcart of Ginoch'. The main body of the letter is in the hand of an emanuensis but the recipe for the aperient electuary included is in Cullen's own hand.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 3 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
[Page 3]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 4845 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/17/41 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | June? 1784? |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Machine copy |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | Yes |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply, for 'Mr Cathcart of Ginoch'. The main body of the letter is in the hand of an emanuensis but the recipe for the aperient electuary included is in Cullen's own hand. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1023] |
Case of Robert Cathcart who has badly swollen legs. |
8 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:258] | Addressee | Dr George Hamilton |
| [PERS ID:3107] | Patient | Mr Robert Cathcart (of Genoch & Knockdolian) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:258] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr George 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 | Genoch (Genoch Mains) | Borders | Scotland | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
Mr. Cathcart of Ginoch
Sir
I have considered very carefully your account
of Mr. Cathcart but expected you would have said some¬
thing about his age and form and manner of life both
of which may be circumstances of influence. He has for
sometime been threatened with Anasarca and now I am
much afraid of some water being poured out onto the
breast but while Dr. Gregorys squill wine continue
to operate as it has done I hope there will be no
danger. That medicine therefore I very properly
ordered I would by all means advise to be continued
I would also advise his belly to be kept open by the
use of such an electuary as I have prescribed on other
page and while the Serous discharge can be duly
kept up his ailments I hope will not only not
increase but may be entirely removed. If however
his difficulty of breathing becomes more troublesome.
I would have a blister applied between his
shoulders and after some time repeated if occasion
may
[Page 2]
may require. If in spite of the circumstances the œdematous
swelling of his legs seem to increase I would advise a
pea issue to be put into each leg a little below the knee
If those discharge plentifully they may be of great
service but if instead of that they become dry and
inflamed the peas must be taken out and the sore be
allowed to heal up. He may possibly at the same
time as the better for wearing laced Stockings if these can be
properly made and applied, that is, if they are made of
firm Stuff and made so as to embrace the foot and leg
very uniformly with a compression that is never more in
any upper part than what it is in those below.
Nothing will be of more consequence to Mr. Cathcart
than his taking a great deal of exercise, he should {illeg}
walk frequently though never long at one time. If
he gets and bears the laced stockings he may go on
horseback with advantage but if he cannot bear that
he should go in a Carriage very frequently and go {illeg}
pretty long Journeys.
You have not told me distinctly what effect
[Page 3]
{illeg} the {illeg} or the dovers powder ↑had upon the disease↑ and therefore
I have no grounds to advise their repetition of either
and I dont expect so much benefit from this dovers
powder as to advise it at all. With respect to the
mercurials I would still deliberate. From the Digitalis
I expect nothing. When you shall have executed the
above advices in any part I shall be glad to hear from
you again and shall willingly advise further as well
as I can. Wishing you heartily success
I am Sir
For Mr. Cathcart of Ginoch
Take one ounce of Crystal Tartar, three drachms of powdered compound of Jalop, half an ounce of lenitive Electuary and a sufficient quantity of Simple Syrup in order to let there be made a light electuary. Label: Aperient Electuary; a teaspoonful or two to be taken in the morning.
W.C.
Diplomatic Text
Mr. Cathcart of Ginoch
Sir
I have considered very carefully your account
of Mr. Cathcart but expected you would have said some¬
thing about his age and form and manner of life both
of which may be circumstances of influence. He has for
sometime been threatened with Anasarca and now I am
much afraid of some water being poured out onto the
breast but while Dr. Gregorys squill wine continue
to operate as it has done I hope there will be no
danger. That medicine therefore I very properly
ordered I would by all means advise to be continued
I would also advise his belly to be kept open by the
use of such an electuary as I have prescribed on other
page and while the Serous discharge can be duly
kept up his ailments I hope will not only not
increase but may be entirely removed. If however
his difficulty of breathing becomes more troublesome.
I would have a blister applied between his
shoulders and after some time repeated if occasion
may
[Page 2]
may require. If in spite of the circumstances the œdematous
swelling of his legs seem to increase I would advise a
pea issue to be put into each leg a little below the knee
If those discharge plentifully they may be of great
service but if instead of that they become dry and
inflamed the peas must be taken out and the sore be
allowed to heal up. He may possibly at the same
time as the better for wearing laced Stockings if these can be
properly made and applied, that is, if they are made of
firm Stuff and made so as to embrace the foot and leg
very uniformly with a compression that is never more in
any upper part than what it is in those below.
Nothing will be of more consequence to Mr. Cathcart
than his taking a great deal of exercise, he should {illeg}
walk frequently though never long at one time. If
he gets and bears the laced stockings he may go on
horseback with advantage but if he cannot bear that
he should go in a Carriage very frequently and go {illeg}
pretty long Journeys.
You have not told me distinctly what effect
[Page 3]
{illeg} the {illeg} or the dovers powder ↑had upon the disease↑ and therefore
I have no grounds to advise their repetition of either
and I dont expect so much benefit from this dovers
powder as to advise it at all. With respect to the
mercurials I would still deliberate. From the Digitalis
I expect nothing. When you shall have executed the
above advices in any part I shall be glad to hear from
you again and shall willingly advise further as well
as I can. Wishing you heartily success
I am Sir
For Mr. Cathcart of Ginoch
℞ Crystallor. Tartar. ℥j
pulv. e Jalap. comp. ʒiij
Elect. lenetiv. ℥fs
Syr. Simpl. q. s. ut f. Electuarium tenue
Sig. Aperient Electuary a tea Spoonfull or two to be
taken in the morning
W.C.
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