The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:4991] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Dr / Regarding: Sir William Maxwell (of Sprinkeld) (Patient) / 26 February 1785 / (Outgoing)
Reply, 'For Sir William Maxwell of Sprinkeld Bart.'
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 7 images for this document.
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Metadata
Field | Data |
---|---|
DOC ID | 4991 |
RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/17/185 |
Main Language | English |
Document Direction | Outgoing |
Date | 26 February 1785 |
Annotation | None |
Type | Machine scribal copy |
Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
Autopsy | No |
Recipe | Yes |
Regimen | No |
Letter of Introduction | No |
Case Note | No |
Summary | Reply, 'For Sir William Maxwell of Sprinkeld Bart.' |
Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
---|---|---|
[Case ID:1843] |
Case of Sir William Maxwell of Springkeld who Cullen has seen in person and whose complaints, primarily a 'lax' belly and weak stomach, stem from a 'gouty disposition'. He is given very full directions. |
1 |
People linked to this document
Person ID | Role in document | Person |
---|---|---|
[PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
[PERS ID:3821] | Addressee | Dr |
[PERS ID:3820] | Patient | Sir William Maxwell (of Sprinkeld) |
[PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
[PERS ID:3821] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr |
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 |
Normalized Text
For Sir William Maxwell of Sprinkeld Bart.
After reflecting upon Sir Williams by past Com¬
plaints and attending diligently to every circumstance
since he came to Town I am of opinion that all his
complaints depend upon a slowness of belly and a
laxity of his Stomach and bowels that allows wind
to be accumulated in them to an unusual degree
and I am very well persuaded that these Com¬
plaints depend on a Gouty disposition in his
habit which does not take its course as it ought
to do to the extremities.
To remedy these faults of his Constitution I
have advised a Diaphoretic Solution which I expect
will not only prevent the Gout from attacking
any internal part, but will also keep the bowels
to their regular course and the medicine is just
to be employed in the quantity that is necessary
for this purpose. If one table Spoonful taken
[Page 2]
at bed time will move the belly once next day, {illeg}
quite enough but if one Spoonful at night does not
answer that purpose, a spoonful must also be
taken in the morning and perhaps two Spoonfuls
at night, perhaps two also in the morning. The
Prescription for this medicine is given in the
inclosed paper that it may be carried to the
Country and given to the Apothecary there that
it may be renewed as occasion shall require.
With respect to it, it is to be observed that like
other medicines it may by repetition come to lose
its proper effect and if it should fail even at
two Spoonfuls both night and morning I would
not have the dose to be further increased tho' for
the purpose of the Stomach and System in general
it may from time to time be frequently taken it
cannot be depended upon as a laxative and at
[Page 3]
the same time as Costiveness will always be very hurtful
to Sir William this must be obtained by other means.
For this purpose I have prescribed also upon the inclo¬
sed paper a medicine in the form of Pills which I
expect will certainly answer the intention. It may
be tried at first by one pill for a dose to be taken at
bed time, but if this does not give one motion next
day the dose may be increased to two or three to
be taken together at bed time and the sufficient
dose is to be taken every second, third or fourth night
as occasion may require.
Beside these medicines I propose one
other as a general Strengthener of the Stomach
and bowels and I have prescribed it also on
the paper inclosed. It is an infusion of which
two table Spoonfuls are to be taken every day
about an hour before dinner.
With these medicines Sir William
will please to give some attention to his diet.
[Page 4]
He should be sparing of Roots and Greens but {illeg}
not avoid them altogether but may frequently take
a little of the tender kinds very well boiled. He
may take any of the ordinary kinds ↑of Animal food↑ but should abstain
from Bacon, Pork or any very fat meat. The
lighter kinds of white fish are very safe if not
taken too often and the heavier kinds as salmon
Herring, Turbot or Eel should be taken seldom
and sparingly. All baked and fried Meats are
to be considered as heavy. All heavy sauces and
high seasoning are to be avoided.
For ordinary drink wine and water is the
most proper but if Sir William is fond of
Malt liquor Porter with one or two parts of water
may be taken, small beer is not so safe. It
will be very proper for Sir William to take
two or three glasses of wine every day at dinner
but should never take so much as to be in
any degree heated by it. The safest wine
[Page 5]
are the [Sherry?] or Madeira, Sherry [and Porter?]
but they must be always taken somewhat diluted
with water. Hock, Claret or other french wine
I hold to be unsafe.
At Supper it would be best {illeg}
meat at all, or at least very little and with respect
to drinking to observe the same directions {illeg}
given above. If Sir William digests milk easily
and without its inducing Costiveness he may take
at Supper any kind of milk meat he like
best.
At Breakfast he may take a weak Chocolate
or rather cocoa tea, for neither Coffee nor Indian
Tea are proper for him.
Nothing will conduce more to Sir Williams
Health than being much in the fresh air and in
gentle exercise. The exercise of all others the
most useful is Riding on horseback. A good
deal of walking may also be allowed but walking
[Page 6]
in wet ground may be very hurtful. {illeg}
{illeg} all in cold or damp weather and especially
standing in damp ground will certainly do harm.
At all times I hold warm Cloathing to be
very proper and necessary measure.
William Cullen
Edinburgh 26th. February
1785
[Page 7]
For Sir William Maxwell Bart.
Take three drachms of Gum Guaiacum and three drachms of very hard white Sugar. Crush them together into a fine powder, to which you add two ounces of raw gum Arabic Mucilage. Crush them diligently again and pour over it, little by little, two drachms of Volatile Elixir of guaiacum, half an ounce of Antimonial Wine, three ounces of simple Cinnamon Water, three ounces of Peppermint Water and one ounce of Duffy's elixir. Mix. Label: Diaphoretic Solution; one or two tablespoons for a dose, taking care always to shake the phial very well before pouring out.
Take one drachm of aloetic pills Mass, fifteen grains of Gambogia, ten grains of Calomel and a sufficient quantity of gum arabic Mucilage in order to obtain a mass to be divided into pills of five grains each. Label: Laxative pills; one, two or three to be taken {illeg} at bed time.
Take two drachms of chamomile Flower, two drachms of {illeg} Peppermint and twenty ounces of boiling water. Let it digest for one night and add to the strained liquid one ounce of aromatic Tincture and one ounce of Tincture of peruvian Bark. Mix. Label: Stomachic infusion; two tablespoons to be taken every day an hour before dinner.
W.C.
26th. February 1785
Diplomatic Text
For Sir William Maxwell of Sprinkeld Bart.
After reflecting upon Sir Williams by past Com¬
plaints and attending diligently to every circumstance
since he came to Town I am of opinion that all his
complaints depend upon a slowness of belly and a
laxity of his Stomach and bowels that allows wind
to be accumulated in them to an unusual degree
and I am very well persuaded that these Com¬
plaints depend on a Gouty disposition in his
habit which does not take its course as it ought
to do to the extremities.
To remedy these faults of his Constitution I
have advised a Diaphoretic Solution which I expect
will not only prevent the Gout from attacking
any internal part, but will also keep the bowels
to their regular course and the medicine is just
to be employed in the quantity that is necessary
for this purpose. If one table Spoonful taken
[Page 2]
at bed time will move the belly once next day, {illeg}
quite enough but if one Spoonful at night does not
answer that purpose, a spoonful must also be
taken in the morning and perhaps two Spoonfuls
at night, perhaps two also in the morning. The
Prescription for this medicine is given in the
inclosed paper that it may be carried to the
Country and given to the Apothecary there that
it may be renewed as occasion shall require.
With respect to it, it is to be observed that like
other medicines it may by repetition come to lose
its proper effect and if it should fail even at
two Spoonfuls both night and morning I would
not have the dose to be further increased tho' for
the purpose of the Stomach and System in general
it may from time to time be frequently taken it
cannot be depended upon as a laxative and at
[Page 3]
the same time as Costiveness will always be very hurtful
to Sir William this must be obtained by other means.
For this purpose I have prescribed also upon the inclo¬
sed paper a medicine in the form of Pills which I
expect will certainly answer the intention. It may
be tried at first by one pill for a dose to be taken at
bed time, but if this does not give one motion next
day the dose may be increased to two or three to
be taken together at bed time and the sufficient
dose is to be taken every second, third or fourth night
as occasion may require.
Beside these medicines I propose one
other as a general Strengthener of the Stomach
and bowels and I have prescribed it also on
the paper inclosed. It is an infusion of which
two table Spoonfuls are to be taken every day
about an hour before dinner.
With these medicines Sir William
will please to give some attention to his diet.
[Page 4]
He should be sparing of Roots and Greens but {illeg}
not avoid them altogether but may frequently take
a little of the tender kinds very well boiled. He
may take any of the ordinary kinds ↑of Animal food↑ but should abstain
from Bacon, Pork or any very fat meat. The
lighter kinds of white fish are very safe if not
taken too often and the heavier kinds as salmon
Herring, Turbot or Eel should be taken seldom
and sparingly. All baked and fried Meats are
to be considered as heavy. All heavy sauces and
high seasoning are to be avoided.
For ordinary drink wine and water is the
most proper but if Sir William is fond of
Malt liquor Porter with one or two parts of water
may be taken, small beer is not so safe. It
will be very proper for Sir William to take
two or three glasses of wine every day at dinner
but should never take so much as to be in
any degree heated by it. The safest wine
[Page 5]
are the [Sherry?] or Madeira, Sherry [and Porter?]
but they must be always taken somewhat diluted
with water. Hock, Claret or other french wine
I hold to be unsafe.
At Supper it would be best {illeg}
meat at all, or at least very little and with respect
to drinking to observe the same directions {illeg}
given above. If Sir William digests milk easily
and without its inducing Costiveness he may take
at Supper any kind of milk meat he like
best.
At Breakfast he may take a weak Chocolate
or rather cocoa tea, for neither Coffee nor Indian
Tea are proper for him.
Nothing will conduce more to Sir Williams
Health than being much in the fresh air and in
gentle exercise. The exercise of all others the
most useful is Riding on horseback. A good
deal of walking may also be allowed but walking
[Page 6]
in wet ground may be very hurtful. {illeg}
{illeg} all in cold or damp weather and especially
standing in damp ground will certainly do harm.
At all times I hold warm Cloathing to be
very proper and necessary measure.
William Cullen
Edinr. 26th. Feby.
1785
[Page 7]
For Sir William Maxwell Bart.
℞ Gum. guaiac.
Sacchar. alb. duriss. @ʒiij
Terito Simul in pulverem tenuem cui adde
Mucilag. gum. Arab. crass. ℥ij
ita iterum diligenter et paulatim affunde
Elix. guaiac. Vol. ʒij
Vin. Antimon. ℥ſs
Aq. Cinnamom. Simp.
-- Menth. piper. @℥iij
Tint. Sen. comp. ℥j
ℳ. Sig. Diaphoretic Solution one, or two Table
Spoonfuls for a dose taking care always to shake the
Phial very well before pouring out
℞ Mass. pil. aloet. ʒ,
Gambog. gr. xv
Calomel gr. x
Mucilag. g. arab. q. s.
ut fiat massa dividenda in pilulas sing. gr. v
Sig. Laxative pills one two or three to be taken
{illeg} at bed time
℞ Flor. chamæm.
{illeg} Menth. piper. @ʒij
Fol. trifol. palust. ʒj
Aq. bullient. ℥xx
Digere per noctem et colaturæ adde
Tinct. aromat.
--- Cort. peruvian @℥j
ℳ. Sig. Stomachic infusion two table Spoonfuls to
be taken every day an hour before dinner
W.C.
26th. Feby. 1785
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