Cullen

The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh

 

[ID:4861] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Mr Thomas Gordon (of Whitburn) / Regarding: Reverend Thomas Gordon (of Speymouth) (Patient) / 26 June 1784 / (Outgoing)

Reply, 'For the Revd. Mr. Gordon'. Cullen provides detailed management for the application of a blister to combat the effects of the patient's chest complaint, which Cullen describes as being of a spasmodic nature.

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[Page 2]


 
 

Metadata

FieldData
DOC ID 4861
RCPE Catalogue Number CUL/1/1/17/57
Main Language English
Document Direction Outgoing
Date26 June 1784
Annotation None
TypeMachine scribal copy
Enclosure(s) No enclosure(s)
Autopsy No
Recipe No
Regimen No
Letter of Introduction No
Case Note No
Summary Reply, 'For the Revd. Mr. Gordon'. Cullen provides detailed management for the application of a blister to combat the effects of the patient's chest complaint, which Cullen describes as being of a spasmodic nature.
Manuscript Incomplete? No
Evidence of Commercial Posting No

Case

Cases that this document belongs to:

Case ID Description Num Docs
[Case ID:1704]
Case of the Revd. Gordon who is very weak and distressed by an advanced chest condition for which he is prescribed Laudanam.
8


People linked to this document

Person IDRole in documentPerson
[PERS ID:1]AuthorDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:2924]AddresseeMr Thomas Gordon (of Whitburn)
[PERS ID:2921]PatientReverend Thomas Gordon (of Speymouth)
[PERS ID:1]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:2924]Patient's Relative / Spouse / FriendMr Thomas Gordon (of Whitburn)

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 Speymouth East Highlands Scotland Europe inferred

Normalized Text

[Page 1]

For the Revd. Mr. Gordon

D[ear] {illeg}


I am heartly concerned for his late distress but I
am of opinion that it is of the same Spasmodic nature
as before. The blister ordered by Dr. Steven was very
proper but was not well managed as I suppose it
was allowed to lie on too long while much drinking of
proper liquids was not inculcated at the same time.


If the very oppressed breathing should recur in such
violent fits as Mr. Gordon describes I think little blood
should be taken from the Arm but it is by no means a
remedy I would wish to repeat unless the effects of a first
trial should appear very favourable.


Bleeding is certainly a proper remedy but unless
it can be managed more properly than before I will
not advise it for Mr. Gordon. Instead of blistering in
case of very difficult breathing I advise a plaister of made
Mustard to be applied to the breast about three inches
square. Let it be of Mustard that has been prepared
for the table at least a day or two old. It should be allowed



[Page 2]

to lie on for two days or longer if he can bear it to be on
it will probably blister but will give no Stranguary. It is
to be treated like a blister with wax plaister and though
it may keep open for some days it will need no other
application


Besides bleeding and blistering there is hardly
any other medicines to be proposed but the Æther formerly
advised and Laudanum if he can be brought to bear
it. I suspect the dose formerly employed to have
been too small at least nothing but a full dose is
likely to be of service.


Whether he takes Laudanum or not it is ab¬
solutely necessary that his belly be kept quite regular
either be laxatives or glysters.


If the pain above his haunch continues let a
small mustard plaister be applied upon the part.


William Cullen

Edinburgh 26th. June
1784

Diplomatic Text

[Page 1]

For the Revd. Mr. Gordon

D[ear] {illeg}


I am heartly concerned for his late distress but I
am of opinion that it is of the same Spasmodic nature
as before. The blister ordered by Dr. Steven was very
proper but was not well managed as I suppose it
was allowed to lie on too long while much drinking of
proper liquids was not inculcated at the same time.


If the very oppressed breathing should recur in such
violent fits as Mr. Gordon describes I think little blood
should be taken from the Arm but it is by no means a
remedy I would wish to repeat unless the effects of a first
trial should appear very favourable.


Bleeding is certainly a proper remedy but unless
it can be managed more properly than before I will
not advise it for Mr. Gordon. Instead of blistering in
case of very difficult breathing I advise a plaister of made
Mustard to be applied to the breast about three inches
square. Let it be of Mustard that has been prepared
for the table at least a day or two old. It should be allowed



[Page 2]

to lie on for two days or longer if he can bear it to be on
it will probably blister but will give no Stranguary. It is
to be treated like a blister with wax plaister and though
it may keep open for some days it will need no other
application


Besides bleeding and blistering there is hardly
any other medicines to be proposed but the Æther formerly
advised and Laudanum if he can be brought to bear
it. I suspect the dose formerly employed to have
been too small at least nothing but a full dose is
likely to be of service.


Whether he takes Laudanum or not it is ab¬
solutely necessary that his belly be kept quite regular
either be laxatives or glysters.


If the pain above his haunch continues let a
small mustard plaister be applied upon the part.


William Cullen

Edinr. 26th. June
1784

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