
The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:5433] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Mr Alexander Dunlop (Sanders, Saunders) / Regarding: Mr Archibald Campbell (of Succoth) (Patient) / 3 April 1787 / (Outgoing)
Reply for 'Mr Campbell of Succoth', to be delivered by him to his surgeon, Alexander ('Saunders') Dunlop. He has 'a moveable tumour in his under Eye lid'. Cullen advises on lotions and ointments to be used, as Mr Campbell is going into the country.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 4 images for this document.

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Metadata
Field | Data |
---|---|
DOC ID | 5433 |
RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/20/53 |
Main Language | English |
Document Direction | Outgoing |
Date | 3 April 1787 |
Annotation | None |
Type | Machine scribal copy |
Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
Autopsy | No |
Recipe | No |
Regimen | No |
Letter of Introduction | Yes |
Case Note | Yes |
Summary | Reply for 'Mr Campbell of Succoth', to be delivered by him to his surgeon, Alexander ('Saunders') Dunlop. He has 'a moveable tumour in his under Eye lid'. Cullen advises on lotions and ointments to be used, as Mr Campbell is going into the country. |
Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
---|---|---|
[Case ID:2023] |
Case of Mr Campbell of Succoth, who has a 'movable tumour' on the lower lid of his left eye. |
7 |
People linked to this document
Person ID | Role in document | Person |
---|---|---|
[PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
[PERS ID:591] | Addressee | Mr Alexander Dunlop (Sanders, Saunders) |
[PERS ID:3914] | Patient | Mr Archibald Campbell (of Succoth) |
[PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
[PERS ID:591] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Mr Alexander Dunlop (Sanders, Saunders) |
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 | Glasgow | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | inferred | |
Mentioned / Other | Succoth | West Highlands | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
Mr. Campbell of
Succoth
This will be delivered to you by
Mr Campbell of Succoth, and I think it
is proper for me to say something to you
about his ailment.
Some time ago he was affected with a
moveable tumour in his under Eye lid, which
still continues, though rather diminished than
increased in its size or hardness. How soon
after I cannot exactly say, but I believe not
long after the little hardness was perceived, a
little sore appeared below the Eye lid, but not
evidently connected with the tumour, but
surrounded with hardened and somewhat
inflamed edges. This Sore has not increased
in size nor the inflammation of its edges
become harder or [redder?] and I think that
within these few days, both as in both
respects, they are rather diminished.
You will readily think of what in
[Page 2]
this case was to be feared, but I hope there is less
ground for fear, than might have been supposed
as the Sore has neither increased in size nor
become troublesome by itching or pain, and
I am persuaded that our best management
in these cases is to avoid any application
that may give irritation. I therefore prescribe
only a lotion of the Sacch. Saturni in which
there was only one grain to the Ounce of disti[lled]
water, but it is now encreased to five grains
and that without giving any smarting, and
he now carries to the Country with him a
quantity of such a lotion prepared here
by a careful hand.
After trying this for some weeks and
finding it to have no effect either good or bad
upon the Sore I wished before I parted with
Mr Campbell to make a trial of another
remedy and I gave him a Mercurial
ointment in the simplest form, that is,
of one part of Mercury to five of the other
[Page 3]
ingredients, and took care that in the [tinctures?]
nothing was added to assist in it. This was
used for two three weeks, and as he was for
the most part keeping at home, it was
applied several times a day. But it has
made as little alteration as the other remedy
and certainly has done no harm. Now
however as he is going to the Country, and that
both for pleasure and health, he will
be much abroad I have desired him
to lay aside the ointment in the
day time, and tho' he may apply it once at
bedtime, it is to be washed off in the morning
and he is to use the Lotion thorough the day.
I expect that you will see him sometimes
and when you observe any change, you will
either correct my Practice, or let me know
of what may have happened. I shall be very
glad that you can Suggest any effectual remedy
but I must conclude with telling you that I am much
afraid that any thing irritating the Sore might be
[Page 4]
very pernicious but I would be far from dictating
to you the line of your own Profession, and
I am truly with great regard
Dear Saunders
Your Affectionate and
Most Obedient Servant
Edinburgh 3d. April
1787
Diplomatic Text
Mr. Campbell of
Succoth
This will be delivered to you by
Mr Campbell of Succoth, and I think it
is proper for me to say something to you
about his ailment.
Some time ago he was affected with a
moveable tumour in his under Eye lid, which
still continues, though rather diminished than
increased in its size or hardness. How soon
after I cannot exactly say, but I believe not
long after the little hardness was perceived, a
little sore appeared below the Eye lid, but not
evidently connected with the tumour, but
surrounded with hardened and somewhat
inflamed edges. This Sore has not increased
in size nor the inflammation of its edges
become harder or [redder?] and I think that
within these few days, both as in both
respects, they are rather diminished.
You will readily think of what in
[Page 2]
this case was to be feared, but I hope there is less
ground for fear, than might have been supposed
as the Sore has neither increased in size nor
become troublesome by itching or pain, and
I am persuaded that our best management
in these cases is to avoid any application
that may give irritation. I therefore prescribe
only a lotion of the Sacch. Saturni in which
there was only one grain to the Ounce of disti[lled]
water, but it is now encreased to five grains
and that without giving any smarting, and
he now carries to the Country with him a
quantity of such a lotion prepared here
by a careful hand.
After trying this for some weeks and
finding it to have no effect either good or bad
upon the Sore I wished before I parted with
Mr Campbell to make a trial of another
remedy and I gave him a Mercurial
ointment in the simplest form, that is,
of one part of Mercury to five of the other
[Page 3]
ingredients, and took care that in the [tinctures?]
nothing was added to assist in it. This was
used for two three weeks, and as he was for
the most part keeping at home, it was
applied several times a day. But it has
made as little alteration as the other remedy
and certainly has done no harm. Now
however as he is going to the Country, and that
both for pleasure and health, he will
be much abroad I have desired him
to lay aside the ointment in the
day time, and tho' he may apply it once at
bedtime, it is to be washed off in the morning
and he is to use the Lotion thorough the day.
I expect that you will see him sometimes
and when you observe any change, you will
either correct my Practice, or let me know
of what may have happened. I shall be very
glad that you can Suggest any effectual remedy
but I must conclude with telling you that I am much
afraid that any thing irritating the Sore might be
[Page 4]
very pernicious but I would be far from dictating
to you the line of your own Profession, and
I am truly with great regard
Dear Saunders
Your Affectionate and
Most Obedient Servant
Edinr. 3d. April
1787
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