Cullen

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

 

[ID:5161] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: [ADDRESSEE UNKNOWN] / Regarding: Mrs Reid (Patient) / 19 October 1785 / (Outgoing)

Reply 'For Mrs Reid'

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Metadata

FieldData
DOC ID 5161
RCPE Catalogue Number CUL/1/1/18/141
Main Language English
Document Direction Outgoing
Date19 October 1785
Annotation None
TypeMachine copy
Enclosure(s) No enclosure(s)
Autopsy No
Recipe No
Regimen No
Letter of Introduction No
Case Note No
Summary Reply 'For Mrs Reid'
Manuscript Incomplete? No
Evidence of Commercial Posting No

Case

Cases that this document belongs to:

Case ID Description Num Docs
[Case ID:1831]
Case of Mrs Reid who developed a cold and fever while bathing at Peterhead to treat her rheumatism and a sprained ankle.
2


People linked to this document

Person IDRole in documentPerson
[PERS ID:1]AuthorDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:3491]PatientMrs Reid
[PERS ID:1]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:3493]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary
[PERS ID:3492]Patient's Relative / Spouse / FriendMr Reid

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
Mentioned / Other Peterhead East Highlands Scotland Europe certain

Normalized Text

[Page 1]
For Mrs Reid


I have considered the case with all possible attention and
have also every other particular that Mr Reid could give me


Upon the whole I am happy to think that Mrs Reid is in
a way of recovery but we are at present well acquainted with {illeg}
recoveries. Mrs Reids fever may have been very much of the inflam¬
matory kind
but there has been a nervous fever in the family and
I have no doubt that Mrs. Reids also has had something of that kind
for this especially accounts for the slow recovery & the affections of
the stomach
that have distressed her so much.


I am clear that she must take some bark first in Infusion
that is clear but afterwards it may be turbid & if it sits well on the
stomach
it may be given in substance. In a person recovering I
pay little regard to frequency of pulse even incidentally great
but on that account I choose to give the bark only in the morning
and forenoon least none after two afternoon.


I am clear also that she may get a little animal food not only
broth but also a little solid of the lighter kinds especially if her ap¬
petite bends to it and that no heat arises from it. I would also give
a little claret upon the same conditions her liking it and its not
heating. By this regimen I hope her recovery will I hope
proceed & let her every day be lifted out of bed but only to ly on the
top of it and by degrees to a chair and to have her apartment changed
that what she is to ly in ↑may↑ be well aired. It will be a great point to




[Page 2]


bring her to bear the Air and a little motion for then I would
get her aboard a ship & set her mind at rest by bringing her here
But observe that I give you my plan I mean that it should
be executed cautiously and by slow degrees only.


I believe there is nothing will contribute more to Mrs Reids
recovery than a proper means of relieving her costiveness. The
practitioner at Peterhead had reason for employing the aloetic
pill
as she had been so accustomed to it but I think at present it
is too heating and I understand it is not certainly effectual. I would
therefore have Cream of tartar or Rochelle salts salt employed or
perhaps a mixture of both which with a little sugar can be made
very agreeable. Try at first a moderate dose as a dram of cream of
tartar
dissolved in four ounces of boiling water and adding to it
when cool two drams of Rochelle salt and as much Sugar candy.
This to be given in two prises 1 at the interval of half an hour. If
this proves too weak let it be supplied by an Injection and afterwards
the quantity of Rochelle salts may be increased.


I am told by Mr Reid that Mrs Reids sleep is often very bad
and that he found Laudanum necessary. When you have found a
laxative
that you can depend upon I would have no objection to
giving her a good nights rest by Laudanum


The management of her diet as mentioned in the case I
think very proper and would no other change but what is hinted
above.




[Page 3]


The odematous foot & ankle and also the pained parts
above should be frequently but gently rubbed with a warm flannel
If the pains should be at any time considerable the part may be
anointed with volatile camphorated Oil, taking care that you em¬
ploy a good caustic spirit.

William Cullen

Edinburgh 19th October
1785.

Notes:

1: Possibly a slip for "pieces" or "doses".

Diplomatic Text

[Page 1]
For Mrs Reid


I have considered the case with all possible attention and
have also every other particular that Mr Reid could give me


Upon the whole I am happy to think that Mrs Reid is in
a way of recovery but we are at present well acquainted with {illeg}
recoveries. Mrs Reids fever may have been very much of the inflam¬
matory kind
but there has been a nervous fever in the family and
I have no doubt that Mrs. Reids also has had something of that kind
for this especially accounts for the slow recovery & the affections of
the stomach
that have distressed her so much.


I am clear that she must take some bark first in Infusion
that is clear but afterwards it may be turbid & if it sits well on the
stomach
it may be given in substance. In a person recovering I
pay little regard to frequency of pulse even incidentally great
but on that account I choose to give the bark only in the morning
and forenoon least none after two afternoon.


I am clear also that she may get a little animal food not only
broth but also a little solid of the lighter kinds especially if her ap¬
petite bends to it and that no heat arises from it. I would also give
a little claret upon the same conditions her liking it and its not
heating. By this regimen I hope her recovery will I hope
proceed & let her every day be lifted out of bed but only to ly on the
top of it and by degrees to a chair and to have her apartment changed
that what she is to ly in ↑may↑ be well aired. It will be a great point to




[Page 2]


bring her to bear the Air and a little motion for then I would
get her aboard a ship & set her mind at rest by bringing her here
But observe that I give you my plan I mean that it should
be executed cautiously and by slow degrees only.


I believe there is nothing will contribute more to Mrs Reids
recovery than a proper means of relieving her costiveness. The
practitioner at Peterhead had reason for employing the aloetic
pill
as she had been so accustomed to it but I think at present it
is too heating and I understand it is not certainly effectual. I would
therefore have Cream of tartar or Rochelle salts salt employed or
perhaps a mixture of both which with a little sugar can be made
very agreeable. Try at first a moderate dose as a dram of cream of
tartar
dissolved in four ounces of boiling water and adding to it
when cool two drams of Rochelle salt and as much Sugar candy.
This to be given in two prises 1 at the interval of half an hour. If
this proves too weak let it be supplied by an Injection and afterwards
the quantity of Rochelle salts may be increased.


I am told by Mr Reid that Mrs Reids sleep is often very bad
and that he found Laudanum necessary. When you have found a
laxative
that you can depend upon I would have no objection to
giving her a good nights rest by Laudanum


The management of her diet as mentioned in the case I
think very proper and would no other change but what is hinted
above.




[Page 3]


The odematous foot & ankle and also the pained parts
above should be frequently but gently rubbed with a warm flannel
If the pains should be at any time considerable the part may be
anointed with volatile camphorated Oil, taking care that you em¬
ploy a good caustic spirit.

William Cullen

Edinr. 19th. Octor.
1785.

Notes:

1: Possibly a slip for "pieces" or "doses".

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