The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:5176] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: (Possibly identical with ID 115 John Gilchrist) / Regarding: Mrs Riddell (Patient) / 3 December 1785 / (Outgoing)
Reply headed 'For Mrs Riddell', who has digestive ailments and fits of cold and heat. Stomachic and laxative prescriptions are given.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 5 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
[Page 3]
[Page 4]
[Page 5]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 5176 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/18/156 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 3 December 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 headed 'For Mrs Riddell', who has digestive ailments and fits of cold and heat. Stomachic and laxative prescriptions are given. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:928] |
Case of Mrs Riddell who has a stomach disorder (tentative identification as being the same patient, but symptoms match). |
2 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:2089] | Addressee | (Possibly identical with ID 115 John Gilchrist) |
| [PERS ID:2087] | Patient | Mrs Riddell |
| [PERS ID:2089] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | (Possibly identical with ID 115 John Gilchrist) |
| [PERS ID:2934] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Mr Bell |
| [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 | Dumfries | Borders | Scotland | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
For Mrs. Riddell
Having attentively considered the account
of her complaints and (↑I↑) find somewhat particular
in them, as the ailments of her stomach
come in fits, and with particular circumstan¬
ces attending them.
If they shall continue to come on with
chilly fits in the evening followed by a good
deal of heat in the night I would as soon
as any thing of that kind is perceived, advise
a gentle Vomit to be taken about Eight o¬
Clock in the Evening, or sooner if the chills
commonly come on sooner.
On the Evening following that I
would advise the stomachic powders prescribed
on the paper apart to be taken about six o¬
[Page 2]
Clock and at Eight oClock the stomachic
draught also ordered on the same paper.
If these medicines agree very well wi[th]
the stomach I would have them taken every
day for several days following and especial[ly]
if they are found to prevent the chills and he[ats]
that are used to come on in the Evenings and
nights.
In that case I would have them contin[ued]
for a week or two, and I hope they will pre¬
vent the fits of sickness and Vomiting tha[t]
used formerly to come on.
If after two or three weeks it shall
appear that these symptoms are for the
time prevented, the medicines may be then
laid aside, and only entered upon again
when there shall be threatnings of another
fit, and which I hope may be prevented
[Page 3]
by the same means.
At all times and especially when fits are
threatened, and during the use of the medicines
above mentioned Mrs. Riddell should take
care to keep her belly regular, and to prevent
costiveness from going far to take a laxative
medicine. She will receive from Mr. Bell
a Copy of the Prescription which has answe¬
red lately very well, but as she may possi¬
bly require a change I have prescribed below
the Castor Oil in a manner that I expect
will be easily taken and sit better on the
stomach, as well as work more properly
than when it was used before.
I have no other advice at present to
offer, but that Mrs. Riddell should take
a good deal of Exercise either on horseback
or in a Carriage as often as she can
[Page 4]
conveniently bear it and that the weather
properly allows.
It might perhaps be expected here
that I should give some directions with re¬
spect to diet but I dont think it at all
necesary, as I think Mrs. Riddells own
experience which she has had too long will
be a better guide than any directions I could
offer
1785
[Page 5]
For Mrs. Riddell
Take 2 scruples of powdered Peruvian Bark and a scruple of ground Columbo Root. Mix to make a powder. Label: Stomachic powder to be taken in a little brandy and water at Six oClock of the evening
Take a scruple of purest Salts of Tartar, ½ an ounce, or as much suffices, of fresh Lemon Juice, 6 drachms each of Simple Cinnamon Water and Rosewater, and 2 drachms of Simple Syrup. Mix. Label: Stomachick draught to be taken at eight oClock of the evening
Take 3 ounces of best Castor Oil and an ounce of Jalap Tincture. Mix. Label: Laxative Oil a table spoonful less or more to be taken for a dose when occasion requires taking care always to shake the phial exceedingly well before [pouring out?] and to swallow it immediately after it is poured out.
Diplomatic Text
For Mrs. Riddell
Having attentively considered the account
of her complaints and (↑I↑) find somewhat particular
in them, as the ailments of her stomach
come in fits, and with particular circumstan¬
ces attending them.
If they shall continue to come on with
chilly fits in the evening followed by a good
deal of heat in the night I would as soon
as any thing of that kind is perceived, advise
a gentle Vomit to be taken about Eight o¬
Clock in the Evening, or sooner if the chills
commonly come on sooner.
On the Evening following that I
would advise the stomachic powders prescribed
on the paper apart to be taken about six o¬
[Page 2]
Clock and at Eight oClock the stomachic
draught also ordered on the same paper.
If these medicines agree very well wi[th]
the stomach I would have them taken every
day for several days following and especial[ly]
if they are found to prevent the chills and he[ats]
that are used to come on in the Evenings and
nights.
In that case I would have them contin[ued]
for a week or two, and I hope they will pre¬
vent the fits of sickness and Vomiting tha[t]
used formerly to come on.
If after two or three weeks it shall
appear that these symptoms are for the
time prevented, the medicines may be then
laid aside, and only entered upon again
when there shall be threatnings of another
fit, and which I hope may be prevented
[Page 3]
by the same means.
At all times and especially when fits are
threatened, and during the use of the medicines
above mentioned Mrs. Riddell should take
care to keep her belly regular, and to prevent
costiveness from going far to take a laxative
medicine. She will receive from Mr. Bell
a Copy of the Prescription which has answe¬
red lately very well, but as she may possi¬
bly require a change I have prescribed below
the Castor Oil in a manner that I expect
will be easily taken and sit better on the
stomach, as well as work more properly
than when it was used before.
I have no other advice at present to
offer, but that Mrs. Riddell should take
a good deal of Exercise either on horseback
or in a Carriage as often as she can
[Page 4]
conveniently bear it and that the weather
properly allows.
It might perhaps be expected here
that I should give some directions with re¬
spect to diet but I dont think it at all
necesary, as I think Mrs. Riddells own
experience which she has had too long will
be a better guide than any directions I could
offer
1785
[Page 5]
For Mrs. Riddell
℞ Pulv. cort. Peruvian ℈ij
–– rad. columb. ℈i
ℳ. f. pulvis
Sig. Stomachic powder to be taken in a little brandy
and water at Six oClock of the evening
℞ Sal. Tartar. puriss. ℈I
Succ. limon. recent. ℥ſs vel q. s.
Aq. Cinnamom. Simpl.
–– rosar. @ ʒvi
Syr. Simpl. ʒij
ℳ. Sig. Stomachick draught to be taken at eight
oClock of the evening
℞ Ol. ricin. opt. ℥iij
Tinct. jalap. ℥i
ℳ. Sig. Laxative Oil a table spoonful less or
more to be taken for a dose when occasion requires
taking care always to shake the phial exceedingly
well before [pouring out?] and to swallow it imme¬
diately after it is poured out.
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