The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:5003] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: [ADDRESSEE UNKNOWN] / Regarding: Mr Johnstone (Patient) / 15 March 1785 / (Outgoing)
Reply 'For Mr. Alexr. Thomson' concerning Mr Johnstone
- 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 | 5003 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/17/197 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 15 March 1785 |
| 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 Mr. Alexr. Thomson' concerning Mr Johnstone |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:2453] |
Case of Mr Johnstone who has a weakness in how lower body. |
1 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:3962] | Patient | Mr Johnstone |
| [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 | Leith | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
For Mr. Johnston Alexr. Thomson
I find Mr. Johnstones Ailments to be of a singular
kind and I am not yet so clear in my opinion of
their nature as to be very positive in advising remedies
but I shall Say what appears to me at present
most probable.
It does not appear to me that there is any
general fault in the whole System or in the
state of his blood but I am certain that there is
a topical affection in his lower extremities, a consi¬
derable degree of laxity and flaccidity in the vessels
and fibres of these lower Extremities parts and unless
that can be mended I think no remedies can obvi¬
ate the effects of an erect posture. For this pur¬
pose I have more than one measure to propose
particularly laced stockings and Cold bathing
of the legs but neither of these measures can
be Entered upon till some other measures are
[Page 2]
tried. In the first place I would have him lay {illeg}
washing of his legs with warm water, and at least to
employ the water no further than is absolutely ne¬
cessary to get off his dressing.
The first trial of an application I would make
is of the Unguentum Citrinum well triturated with
an equal part of Hogs Lard and with this mixture
let two of the largest and worst conditioned sores on
one leg be dressed twice a day whilst the other Sores
on the same leg and the whole of the Sores on the
other leg are dressed as at present with green
blades.
While this application is tried I would insist
upon his lying a bed or upon the bed and constantly
in a horizontal posture for at least seven or Eight
days and this trial will be absolutely necessary
to show me how we can best manage his Exercise
and other measures necessary afterwards.
During this Course he may take every
[Page 3]
day at dinner a moderate portion of ↑any↑ Animal food except
fish, but he should take of the greatest part of his
Meal with Broth, Pudding and Vegetables. At
Breakfast and Supper he cannot be too low and sparing
and at all times let him avoid Tea and Coffee.
If he happens to be costive let him take twice
a week one dram of the Compound Powder of Jallap
with five grains of Calomel, or such a dose as will
give him two or three motions.
Let his ordinary drink be Small beer rather
than water but let him abstain entirely from all
kind of Stronger drink.
William Cullen -
Edinburgh 15th. March
1785
Diplomatic Text
For Mr. Johnston Alexr. Thomson
I find Mr. Johnstones Ailments to be of a singular
kind and I am not yet so clear in my opinion of
their nature as to be very positive in advising remedies
but I shall Say what appears to me at present
most probable.
It does not appear to me that there is any
general fault in the whole System or in the
state of his blood but I am certain that there is
a topical affection in his lower extremities, a consi¬
derable degree of laxity and flaccidity in the vessels
and fibres of these lower Extremities parts and unless
that can be mended I think no remedies can obvi¬
ate the effects of an erect posture. For this pur¬
pose I have more than one measure to propose
particularly laced stockings and Cold bathing
of the legs but neither of these measures can
be Entered upon till some other measures are
[Page 2]
tried. In the first place I would have him lay {illeg}
washing of his legs with warm water, and at least to
employ the water no further than is absolutely ne¬
cessary to get off his dressing.
The first trial of an application I would make
is of the Unguentum Citrinum well triturated with
an equal part of Hogs Lard and with this mixture
let two of the largest and worst conditioned sores on
one leg be dressed twice a day whilst the other Sores
on the same leg and the whole of the Sores on the
other leg are dressed as at present with green
blades.
While this application is tried I would insist
upon his lying a bed or upon the bed and constantly
in a horizontal posture for at least seven or Eight
days and this trial will be absolutely necessary
to show me how we can best manage his Exercise
and other measures necessary afterwards.
During this Course he may take every
[Page 3]
day at dinner a moderate portion of ↑any↑ Animal food except
fish, but he should take of the greatest part of his
Meal with Broth, Pudding and Vegetables. At
Breakfast and Supper he cannot be too low and sparing
and at all times let him avoid Tea and Coffee.
If he happens to be costive let him take twice
a week one dram of the Compound Powder of Jallap
with five grains of Calomel, or such a dose as will
give him two or three motions.
Let his ordinary drink be Small beer rather
than water but let him abstain entirely from all
kind of Stronger drink.
William Cullen -
Edinr. 15th. March
1785
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