The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:5783] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Dr George Skene / Regarding: Mrs Mary Leith (Forbes) (of Leith Hall) (Patient) / 15 February 1789 / (Outgoing)
Reply, 'For Mrs Leith of Leithhall'.
- 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 | 5783 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/21/55 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 15 February 1789 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Machine scribal copy |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | Yes |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply, 'For Mrs Leith of Leithhall'. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1282] |
Case of Mrs Leith, mother of four children, who has been sick since she last gave birth. |
3 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:64] | Addressee | Dr George Skene |
| [PERS ID:3669] | Patient | Mrs Mary Leith (of Leith Hall) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:64] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr George Skene |
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 | Aberdeen | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | inferred | |
| Mentioned / Other | Leith Hall | Huntly | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
For Mrs Leith of Leithhall
I have considered the Case with the utmost
attention, but do not find the information as complete
as I could wish. There is no account of any [flooding?]
happening after her third lying in that [might?]
account for the weakness that came on soon [after?],
nor is there any account of what happened when
the placenta was long in coming off, and She had
the alarming faint of long duration. I am also dis¬
appointed in not having any account of the
present state of her pulse either with [respect?]
to its strength or frequency, nor is there any
account of the state of the Menses. I would wish
to have these parts of information supplied
and in the meantime I have nothing to [en¬
gage?] my consideration, but a general account
of debility, and the costiveness.
[Page 2]
For the first I have no doubt, but that {illeg}
kind of light nourishment, and what wine She
could bear have been employed, and unless her
pulse forbid I should have no objection to the
latter. I am sorry to find that she does not bear
the bark, and I would have wished to know if
any other tonics had been employed. In the mean¬
time I would willingly have a Chalybeate tried
and what I think the best, is the Limitura
given with a little powdered Cinnamon. At
first in a small dose, and afterwards gradual[ly]
increased as the stomach and other symptom[s]
shall allow.
For the costiveness I am uncertain in
advising, as I don't know what has been tried
and should expect that Cream of tartar with
the additon of some compound powder that has
been ↑{illeg}↑ prepared by a diligent triture might
be brought to answer the purpose of a [certain?]
[Page 3]
though gentle laxative. There is no laxative I
have more favour for than the Oleum Ricini
and though a spoonful may be too much, half
the quantity my answer without griping.
But let it be observed that I never give it
alone, but always with the addition of a fourth
part of the Tincture Sennæ composita or
the Tincture jalappa, and either of these
well shaken with the oil in a phial makes
it swallowed easier, sit easy on the stomach
and to operate with less griping, and I wish
it to be tried in that manner. I have fre¬
quently found a pap or pudding spoonful prove
a very agreeable laxative, and sometimes a
lesser quantity will answer.
I should be very happy to be of service
to Mrs. Leith, but I cannot possibly give any
proper advice without a more exact and complete
information.
Edinburgh 15th. February
1789
Diplomatic Text
For Mrs Leith of Leithhall
I have considered the Case with the utmost
attention, but do not find the information as complete
as I could wish. There is no account of any [flooding?]
happening after her third lying in that [might?]
account for the weakness that came on soon [after?],
nor is there any account of what happened when
the placenta was long in coming off, and She had
the alarming faint of long duration. I am also dis¬
appointed in not having any account of the
present state of her pulse either with [respect?]
to its strength or frequency, nor is there any
account of the state of the Menses. I would wish
to have these parts of information supplied
and in the meantime I have nothing to [en¬
gage?] my consideration, but a general account
of debility, and the costiveness.
[Page 2]
For the first I have no doubt, but that {illeg}
kind of light nourishment, and what wine She
could bear have been employed, and unless her
pulse forbid I should have no objection to the
latter. I am sorry to find that she does not bear
the bark, and I would have wished to know if
any other tonics had been employed. In the mean¬
time I would willingly have a Chalybeate tried
and what I think the best, is the Limitura
given with a little powdered Cinnamon. At
first in a small dose, and afterwards gradual[ly]
increased as the stomach and other symptom[s]
shall allow.
For the costiveness I am uncertain in
advising, as I don't know what has been tried
and should expect that Cream of tartar with
the additon of some compound powder that has
been ↑{illeg}↑ prepared by a diligent triture might
be brought to answer the purpose of a [certain?]
[Page 3]
though gentle laxative. There is no laxative I
have more favour for than the Oleum Ricini
and though a spoonful may be too much, half
the quantity my answer without griping.
But let it be observed that I never give it
alone, but always with the addition of a fourth
part of the Tincture Sennæ composita or
the Tincture jalappa, and either of these
well shaken with the oil in a phial makes
it swallowed easier, sit easy on the stomach
and to operate with less griping, and I wish
it to be tried in that manner. I have fre¬
quently found a pap or pudding spoonful prove
a very agreeable laxative, and sometimes a
lesser quantity will answer.
I should be very happy to be of service
to Mrs. Leith, but I cannot possibly give any
proper advice without a more exact and complete
information.
Edinr. 15th. Feby.
1789
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