The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:4916] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Dr John Alves / Regarding: Mrs Jane Fraser (of Relick) (Patient) / 15 September 1784 / (Outgoing)
Reply, for 'Mrs Fraser Relig'. For the sake of her breast, Mrs Fraser is advised to give up nursing (i.e. suckling) her baby at night by finding a suitable wet-nurse.
- 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 | 4916 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/17/111 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 15 September 1784 |
| 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, for 'Mrs Fraser Relig'. For the sake of her breast, Mrs Fraser is advised to give up nursing (i.e. suckling) her baby at night by finding a suitable wet-nurse. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:788] |
Case of Mrs [Jane] Fraser of Relict [Relig/Reelig], who suffers from breathlessness and pain in her side; she subsequently falls down stairs, becomes pregnant and is then dissuaded from suckling her child for fear of her catching milk fever and a cold. |
21 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:148] | Addressee | Dr John Alves |
| [PERS ID:857] | Patient | Mrs Jane Fraser (of Relick) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:148] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr John Alves |
| [PERS ID:4571] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Mr Fraser |
| [PERS ID:858] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Mr Fraser (of Relick) |
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 | Inverness | North Highlands | Scotland | Europe | inferred | |
| Mentioned / Other | Reelig (Relig / Relict / Relick) | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
Mrs Fraser Relig
I am just now favoured with yours and
have not the least hesitation in giving you an
answer. I am certain that Nursing is extremely
[im?] proper for Mrs. Fraser and that for the seve¬
ral good reasons which you give and several others
I could add if necessary but it is enough that
she will be guided by my advice and I advise her
earnestly to let it alone. At the same time I
approve much as I have always occasion to do
of your discretion in proposing her giving up the
nursing by degrees both for the sake of her breast
and of her general health. Let a nurse be
instantly provided to take the whole labour of
the night while Mrs. Fraser may continue
to give the Child suck once or twice in the day
time. In this way her milk will diminish
[Page 2]
by degrees allow her to recover strength and to take
what measures the circumstances of her health might
require.
What these may be at present I dare not posi¬
tively determine. I hope the pain of her side and Cough
have been owing to the causes you mention and by avoiding
these for the time to come I hope the symptoms will
again disappear but if they should not and parti¬
cularly if the pain of the side should continue fixed
and affecting her breathing I would have no hesitation
in applying a blister to the pained part. Bleeding
certainly should not be rashly employed but I am not
displeased with the bleeding at the nose and what
further may be necessary I leave as I may do to your
good judgement. I presume that her present situation
enjoin so soon after her delivery enjoins a very moderate
diet and I believe a low diet will be safe than a
full one.
[Page 3]
I perceive that [Relict has no opinion of my sincerity
in loving his wife else?] he would have let me know sooner
what had happened to her 1 and which I only learned
by accident last night but ---- I wish her all
health and happiness and am
Dear Doctor
Your most Obedient Servant
Edinburgh 15th. September
1784
Notes:
1: This presumably refers to her falling down stairs, and Cullen is annoyed at misplaced aspersions cast by her husband on his apparent lack of concern.
Diplomatic Text
Mrs Fraser Relig
I am just now favoured with yours and
have not the least hesitation in giving you an
answer. I am certain that Nursing is extremely
[im?] proper for Mrs. Fraser and that for the seve¬
ral good reasons which you give and several others
I could add if necessary but it is enough that
she will be guided by my advice and I advise her
earnestly to let it alone. At the same time I
approve much as I have always occasion to do
of your discretion in proposing her giving up the
nursing by degrees both for the sake of her breast
and of her general health. Let a nurse be
instantly provided to take the whole labour of
the night while Mrs. Fraser may continue
to give the Child suck once or twice in the day
time. In this way her milk will diminish
[Page 2]
by degrees allow her to recover strength and to take
what measures the circumstances of her health might
require.
What these may be at present I dare not posi¬
tively determine. I hope the pain of her side and Cough
have been owing to the causes you mention and by avoiding
these for the time to come I hope the symptoms will
again disappear but if they should not and parti¬
cularly if the pain of the side should continue fixed
and affecting her breathing I would have no hesitation
in applying a blister to the pained part. Bleeding
certainly should not be rashly employed but I am not
displeased with the bleeding at the nose and what
further may be necessary I leave as I may do to your
good judgement. I presume that her present situation
enjoin so soon after her delivery enjoins a very moderate
diet and I believe a low diet will be safe than a
full one.
[Page 3]
I perceive that [Relict has no opinion of my sincerity
in loving his wife else?] he would have let me know sooner
what had happened to her 1 and which I only learned
by accident last night but ---- I wish her all
health and happiness and am
Dear Dr.
Your most Obedient Servant
Edinr. 15th. Septr.
1784
Notes:
1: This presumably refers to her falling down stairs, and Cullen is annoyed at misplaced aspersions cast by her husband on his apparent lack of concern.
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