The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:5074] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Mr William Cokayne (Cocayne) / Regarding: Mrs Cokayne (Patient) / 13 June 1785 / (Outgoing)
Reply, 'Mrs Cokayne'.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 7 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
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[Page 7]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 5074 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/18/57 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 13 June 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, 'Mrs Cokayne'. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:973] |
Case of Mrs Cockayne [Cocayne] who consults Cullen over several years regarding a painful abdominal condition. |
17 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:2833] | Addressee | Mr William Cokayne (Cocayne) |
| [PERS ID:2834] | Patient | Mrs Cokayne |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:2833] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Mr William Cokayne (Cocayne) |
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 | Wooler | North-East | England | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
Mrs. Cockayne
Dear Sir
I have been favoured this day with a
Visit from Mrs Cockayne and have heard
all her complaints with great attention and
shall be very happy to have it in my power
to relieve them. I consider the Cough and
pain of her breast as entirely Nervous and
no ways Pthisical and the other pains
which at times appear in different parts
of her body I consider as of the same nature
but not without suspicion of something
Rheumatic joined with them. The pains
that sometimes affect her Stomach are indeed
separate from both but they are still mark
of a Nervous Dyspeptic ailment that
She has been long liable to In short not
only the state of Symptoms shows the disease
[Page 2]
to be chiefly of the Spasmodic kind but their
being so often relieved by Opium puts it out
of all doubt that they are not of an inflam¬
matory nature.
In this view I say you must continue
to give relief by Opiates as often as the severity
of pain requires it. taking care however
by proper laxatives to prevent Costiveness
from taking place to any great degree.
It is possible that the use of the opiates
might be often saved by employing Ether
if you are provided with it of a good qua¬
lity and know the proper administration
These are the means of relieving
present distress but it is much to be
wished that means could be found for
preventing the frequent returns of the
Complaint. This I hope may be done
[Page 3]
by strengthening the Nervous System. For
this purpose we can mainly think of Bark
and Chalybeates but I doubt of their propriety
in this case and I don't believe that Mrs
Cokayne could bear the quantities of either
that would be necessary and I would ↑rather↑ attempt
it in the first place by Exercise and Cold
Bathing. I am directed to the first by
her own experience in finding so much relief
from it going in a Carriage even when her
pain is present. I expect therefore that
the more constant practice might even
prevent the returns of her pain and Cough
and I think it is possible that the more
easy and less expensive practice of Riding
on horseback might answer the purpose.
With respect to Cold Bathing if She
can bear it with safety I am well satis¬
fied that it would be of great Service to
[Page 4]
her nerves but considering the afflux of
Phlegm which often seems to be made to
her breast, the Cold Bathing may appear
as somewhat ambiguous remedy and
at least it certainly requires to be attemp¬
ted with some caution. I am clear that
her plunging at once into the Sea would
be dangerous, but if She will begin with
the tempered water, such as, a mixture
of four parts of Spring water with one
part of boiling water, either employed
in a Shower bath or by washing all
over her body, it may be tried with safety.
I beg that she may always work exactly
by measure and if at first She employs
two Gallons of Spring water immediately
when up from the Spring, and half a
gallon of quite boiling water and bathe
[Page 5]
or wash with this every morning She
may every Second day keep back half a
pint of the boiling water, She may come in
the course of a fortnight to use the water
quite cold as it comes from the Spring
and if it shall be found to agree with
her She may afterwards bathe in the
Sea. In this manner She may make a
trial safely and if it should not agree
with her, She will have warning of the
danger before it is urged too far.
I find that Mrs. Cockayne has been
sometimes relieved by blistering and I once
thought of advising her of having an Issue
of one kind or other constantly employed
but upon reflexion I cannot promise so
much benefit from it as would com¬
pensate the trouble and pain she might
[Page 6]
have from it. I therefore do not advise any
issue, but have no objection to her applying
a fresh blister as often as violent and
obstinate pain may seem to require it.
I have thus offered the best advice
I can to Mrs. Cockayne but it is possible
that either you or She may think I
have not attended to the variety of her
particular complaints, but if you do I
think you are mistaken for I am persuaded
they all proceed from one general cause
and the Cure must proceed upon general plan.
I believe that few medicines can be of service to her
but I have ordered on other page one that I hope
may be of service both to her breast and to the
Uterine complaints She was formerly liable
to and is not yet entirely free from them.
When you think I can be of further use
to Mrs. Cockayne let me know and you may
depend upon a punctual return from Dear
Sir your most Obedient Servant
William Cullen
Edinburgh 13th. June 1785
[Page 7]
For Mrs Cockayne
Take three drachms of liquorice Extract and one drachm of the best Myrrh. After having divided the extract into little pieces, immerse them into enough hot water in order to let them soften and become a pulp to be mashed, to which you add the Myrrh previously crushed into a fine powder. Add enough hot water in order to make a mass to be divided into pills of five grains each. Label Pectoral Pills. Two or three to be taken every night at bedtime.
W.C.
13th. June 1785
N.B. I should have observed above that Mrs.
Cockaynes Complaints so far as they are Rheumatic
will be cured by the Summer Season and Exercise.
I should have observed also that I dont doubt but
her Complaints might be better for a Sea Voyage but I
expect as much benefit from the Assiduous employment
of Exercise upon land.
Diplomatic Text
Mrs. Cockayne
Dear Sir
I have been favoured this day with a
Visit from Mrs Cockayne and have heard
all her complaints with great attention and
shall be very happy to have it in my power
to relieve them. I consider the Cough and
pain of her breast as entirely Nervous and
no ways Pthisical and the other pains
which at times appear in different parts
of her body I consider as of the same nature
but not without suspicion of something
Rheumatic joined with them. The pains
that sometimes affect her Stomach are indeed
separate from both but they are still mark
of a Nervous Dyspeptic ailment that
She has been long liable to In short not
only the state of Symptoms shows the disease
[Page 2]
to be chiefly of the Spasmodic kind but their
being so often relieved by Opium puts it out
of all doubt that they are not of an inflam¬
matory nature.
In this view I say you must continue
to give relief by Opiates as often as the severity
of pain requires it. taking care however
by proper laxatives to prevent Costiveness
from taking place to any great degree.
It is possible that the use of the opiates
might be often saved by employing Ether
if you are provided with it of a good qua¬
lity and know the proper administration
These are the means of relieving
present distress but it is much to be
wished that means could be found for
preventing the frequent returns of the
Complaint. This I hope may be done
[Page 3]
by strengthening the Nervous System. For
this purpose we can mainly think of Bark
and Chalybeates but I doubt of their propriety
in this case and I don't believe that Mrs
Cokayne could bear the quantities of either
that would be necessary and I would ↑rather↑ attempt
it in the first place by Exercise and Cold
Bathing. I am directed to the first by
her own experience in finding so much relief
from it going in a Carriage even when her
pain is present. I expect therefore that
the more constant practice might even
prevent the returns of her pain and Cough
and I think it is possible that the more
easy and less expensive practice of Riding
on horseback might answer the purpose.
With respect to Cold Bathing if She
can bear it with safety I am well satis¬
fied that it would be of great Service to
[Page 4]
her nerves but considering the afflux of
Phlegm which often seems to be made to
her breast, the Cold Bathing may appear
as somewhat ambiguous remedy and
at least it certainly requires to be attemp¬
ted with some caution. I am clear that
her plunging at once into the Sea would
be dangerous, but if She will begin with
the tempered water, such as, a mixture
of four parts of Spring water with one
part of boiling water, either employed
in a Shower bath or by washing all
over her body, it may be tried with safety.
I beg that she may always work exactly
by measure and if at first She employs
two Gallons of Spring water immediately
when up from the Spring, and half a
gallon of quite boiling water and bathe
[Page 5]
or wash with this every morning She
may every Second day keep back half a
pint of the boiling water, She may come in
the course of a fortnight to use the water
quite cold as it comes from the Spring
and if it shall be found to agree with
her She may afterwards bathe in the
Sea. In this manner She may make a
trial safely and if it should not agree
with her, She will have warning of the
danger before it is urged too far.
I find that Mrs. Cockayne has been
sometimes relieved by blistering and I once
thought of advising her of having an Issue
of one kind or other constantly employed
but upon reflexion I cannot promise so
much benefit from it as would com¬
pensate the trouble and pain she might
[Page 6]
have from it. I therefore do not advise any
issue, but have no objection to her applying
a fresh blister as often as violent and
obstinate pain may seem to require it.
I have thus offered the best advice
I can to Mrs. Cockayne but it is possible
that either you or She may think I
have not attended to the variety of her
particular complaints, but if you do I
think you are mistaken for I am persuaded
they all proceed from one general cause
and the Cure must proceed upon general plan.
I believe that few medicines can be of service to her
but I have ordered on other page one that I hope
may be of service both to her breast and to the
Uterine complaints She was formerly liable
to and is not yet entirely free from them.
When you think I can be of further use
to Mrs. Cockayne let me know and you may
depend upon a punctual return from Dear
Sir your most Obedient Servant
William Cullen
Edinr. 13th. June 1785
[Page 7]
For Mrs Cockayne
℞ Extract. glycyrrhiz. ʒiij
Myrrh opt. ʒj
Extracto in frustula conciso affunde aquæ
ferventis q. s. ut mollescat et in pulpam
contundatur cui adde Myrrham prius
in pulverem tenuem tritam et cum aq. ferv.
q. s. f.t massa dividenda in pil. sing. gr. V
Sig Pectoral Pills two, or three
to be taken every night at bed time
W.C.
13th. June 1785
N.B. I should have observed above that Mrs.
Cockaynes Complaints so far as they are Rheumatic
will be cured by the Summer Season and Exercise.
I should have observed also that I dont doubt but
her Complaints might be better for a Sea Voyage but I
expect as much benefit from the Assiduous employment
of Exercise upon land.
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