The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:5499] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Dr Charles Keith / Regarding: Mr John Cook (Cooke; of Gallowhill; of Ogle. ) (Patient), Miss Marr (Patient) / 31 July 1787 / (Outgoing)
Reply for 'Dr. Keith C. Mr. Cook', and also concerning Miss Marr. Cullen admits he is 'truly at a loss what to do with John Cook', because of his inability to live regularly, but he raises the possibility of trying the Peterhead waters and encloses two prescriptions. He recommends that Miss Marr returns to the sea coast, and believes her knee ailment to be gout.
- 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 | 5499 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/20/119 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 31 July 1787 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Machine copy |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | Yes |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply for 'Dr. Keith C. Mr. Cook', and also concerning Miss Marr. Cullen admits he is 'truly at a loss what to do with John Cook', because of his inability to live regularly, but he raises the possibility of trying the Peterhead waters and encloses two prescriptions. He recommends that Miss Marr returns to the sea coast, and believes her knee ailment to be gout. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:909] |
Case of John Cook of Gallowhill, who suffers from phlegm and other ailments exacerbated by excessive drinking. |
20 |
| [Case ID:2499] |
Case of Miss Marr, who has a cough and a knee ailment. |
5 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:3387] | Addressee | Dr Charles Keith |
| [PERS ID:3495] | Patient | Mr John Cook (Cooke; of Gallowhill; of Ogle. ) |
| [PERS ID:3698] | Patient | Miss Marr |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:3387] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr Charles Keith |
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 | Morpeth | North-East | England | Europe | inferred | |
| Therapeutic Recommendation | Peterhead | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
Dr. Keith Concerning Mr. Cook
I am truly at a loss what to do with
John Cook. If he could be brought to live with
any regularity as he has wonderful Stamina
something might be done; but as I take him
to be incorrigible I doubt if any advice can be
of service. I believe a Journey of two or three
weeks would be of service, but I doubt if
drinking waters in his hydropic state would
be tolerably safe. If however you think it
necessary to give him an errand you may
propose Peterhead, and if he calls upon me
by the way I should give the proper directions.
As however it is very improbable that he will
take this advice I give you a Prescription
on other page which I hope he will take
and be the better for it. With this you may
let him know that I beg he would be more
[Page 2]
moderate in his drinking. Ale and Wine are safer
than Spirits but still those in great quantity must
be very hurtful. It is very necessary to keep his belly
and his kidnies open, and for these purposes, you
can hardly give him too much of the Cream of Tartar
This is enough for Mr. Cook, and I should
be very willing to advise for Miss Marr, and there
is one advice I can give very confidently, that she
should immediately return to the Sea Coast and
continue there as long as she conveniently can
and if possible be much employed in Riding.
What is the nature of the affection of her knee
I cannot positively determine, but it looks like
Gout, and the family circumstances you mention
favour the supposition. In that case however
nothing is to be done till you look on a little
longer. The only medicine I can advise is forty o[r]
fifty drops of the Volatile Elixir of Guaiac to be
taken every night at bedtime. The drops shoul[d]
be dropped on a little powdered Sugar in the
bottom of a Tea Cup, and ↑after↑ mixing the drops
[Page 3]
with this two or three spoonfuls of water may be added
and after stirring a little, the whole may be swallowed.
When you can make any further observation on Miss
Marrs Case you may write me. I am as always
with sincere regard
Your most obedient servant
1787/
Take five grains each of prepared Rust, ground Columbo Root and ground Cinnamon. Mix. Label: Tonic Powders; one to be taken in a little Currant or calves feet jelly twice a day, washing down each dose with two tablespoons of the following.
Take two drachms of crushed Columbo Root, half a drachm each of Orange Peel, and Cinnamon Bark and a pint of very hot water. Steep for twelve hours and strain through paper. Label: Tonic infusion; two tablespoons to be taken after every dose of the powders.
Diplomatic Text
Dr. Keith C. Mr. Cook
I am truly at a loss what to do with
John Cook. If he could be brought to live with
any regularity as he has wonderful Stamina
something might be done; but as I take him
to be incorrigible I doubt if any advice can be
of service. I believe a Journey of two or three
weeks would be of service, but I doubt if
drinking waters in his hydropic state would
be tolerably safe. If however you think it
necessary to give him an errand you may
propose Peterhead, and if he calls upon me
by the way I should give the proper directions.
As however it is very improbable that he will
take this advice I give you a Prescription
on other page which I hope he will take
and be the better for it. With this you may
let him know that I beg he would be more
[Page 2]
moderate in his drinking. Ale and Wine are safer
than Spirits but still those in great quantity must
be very hurtful. It is very necessary to keep his belly
and his kidnies open, and for these purposes, you
can hardly give him too much of the Cream of Tartar
This is enough for Mr. Cook, and I should
be very willing to advise for Miss Marr, and there
is one advice I can give very confidently, that she
should immediately return to the Sea Coast and
continue there as long as she conveniently can
and if possible be much employed in Riding.
What is the nature of the affection of her knee
I cannot positively determine, but it looks like
Gout, and the family circumstances you mention
favour the supposition. In that case however
nothing is to be done till you look on a little
longer. The only medicine I can advise is forty o[r]
fifty drops of the Volatile Elixir of Guaiac to be
taken every night at bedtime. The drops shoul[d]
be dropped on a little powdered Sugar in the
bottom of a Tea Cup, and ↑after↑ mixing the drops
[Page 3]
with this two or three spoonfuls of water may be added
and after stirring a little, the whole may be swallowed.
When you can make any further observation on Miss
Marrs Case you may write me. I am as always
with sincere regard
Your most obedient servant
1787/
℞ Rubig. ferri præp.
Pulv. rad. colomb.
–– cinnamom. @ gr. V.
ℳ. f. pulvis et f. h. m. dos. № xxviij
Sig. Tonic Powders One to be taken in a little Currant
or Calves feet jelly twice a day washing down each dose with
two table spoonfuls of the following
℞ Rad. colomb. contus. ʒij
Cort. aurant.
–– cinnamom. @ ʒſs
Aq. ferv. ℔.j
Digere horas xij et per chartam cola
Sig. Tonic infusion two table spoonfuls to be taken after every
dose of the powders.
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