The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:5790] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: [ADDRESSEE UNKNOWN] / Regarding: Colonel D Muirhead (Patient) / 4 March 1789 / (Outgoing)
Reply, 'For Lieutenant Colonel Muirhead'.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 7 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
[Page 3]
[Page 4]
[Page 5]
[Page 6]
[Page 7]
Metadata
Field | Data |
---|---|
DOC ID | 5790 |
RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/21/62 |
Main Language | English |
Document Direction | Outgoing |
Date | 4 March 1789 |
Annotation | None |
Type | Machine scribal copy |
Enclosure(s) | Enclosure(s) present |
Autopsy | No |
Recipe | Yes |
Regimen | No |
Letter of Introduction | No |
Case Note | No |
Summary | Reply, 'For Lieutenant Colonel Muirhead'. |
Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
---|---|---|
[Case ID:1164] |
Case of Colonel D. Murhead, who corresponds directy with Cullen. |
12 |
People linked to this document
Person ID | Role in document | Person |
---|---|---|
[PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
[PERS ID:3915] | Patient | Colonel D Muirhead |
[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 | Crossbasket Castle | High Blantyre | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
Sir Lieutenant Colonel Muirhead
After considering very attentively the whole
circumstances of the Colonels complaints I find
he has some relics of the bilious complaint
and Schirrous liver which he had in India
but they are certainly much abated, and as I
judge in a way of going off entirely, and I am
happy to find that he has got a medicine, the
Agrimony which seems to have effect in
carrying off every obstruction of his bowels.
This medicine therefore he should continue
for sometime, and especially so long as it
seems to have any effect in clearing his urine.
But as his disease has affected his
stomach considerably, so I think it may [be]
useful for him to take some medicine for
strengthening that part, and also for {illeg}
any remains of Scurvy that may be in
[Page 2]
his blood. For this purpose I have given [a pre¬]
scription on the paper inclosed, which he may
get prepared at Glasgow, and take a small
cupful of it every morning before breakfast.
For the same purpose of clearing his
blood, he may about the end of next month
or beginning of May take once, twice or thrice
a week a Keysers Pill, but should desist
from them as soon as he perceives any taint
of his breath, or ↑copper taste in the mouth↑ the smallest degree of
soreness in his mouth (↑it↑).
These are the only medicines I think
necessary at present, or till I shall hear
from him further, and I depend much upon
the advance of the Season, a proper
regimen for his entire recovery.
In point of regimen his attention in
the first place must be given to avoiding cold.
He seems to do this at present by his
[Page 3]
warm Cloathings and I have only to desire that
he may not change any part of this before
the month of June, and in the mean time still
to take care not to be exposed to any degree
of cold or wet.
In avoiding these I hope he will not be
prevented from taking as much exercise
abroad as the weather will allow. He may
walk out frequently, but never long at one
time, or to any degree of fatigue, and he will
be much safer to go on horseback or in a Carriage.
The former to what length he can bear
without fatigue, but till the Season is a
good deal advanced, he will be safest in a
Carriage.
At dinner he may take a part of any
animal food, roasted or boiled, as he likes best
but the lighter kinds are to be preferred, and
the quantity should be always moderate. He
[Page 4]
may frequently take a little light white fish
but I am much afraid that the Salmond and
Herrings now coming in season, will not at
all be safe for him. Light puddings ↑to↑ fill up
his meal will be very proper. In taking vege¬
tables he must be cautious, and if he finds them
turning sour on his stomach, or passing very
windy, he must let them alone. At present
a dry mealy Potatoe, will be one of the safest
things he can take, and Broccoli is almost
the only green he can safely try, but when
Summer sets in, green Pease and young Turnip
will be very proper, and of service to his
blood. But with respect to other roots or
greens he must observe the caution mentioned
above. I think he will do wisely in continuing
to abstain from Suppers.
I forgot to enquire of him how he agrees
with Milk, or if I did enquire I forgot what
[Page 5]
account he gave me, and therefore I can only say
in general if he knows it to agree with him
he may take it for breakfast, or even for a
point of his dinner, but if it does not digest
easily, he should let it alone altogether. Whether
entire milk agrees or not, as soon as grass
milk is to be got, he may take some whey
or some very fresh Butter milk.
In point of other liquids I think neither
Tea nor Coffee are proper for him, except taken
very weak and in very moderate quantity.
Malt liquor of every kind he is to abstain
from, and from what he tells me I think he
should let alone even Wine almost entirely.
His ordinary drink should be plain water
but at meals he may put a small proportion
of Brandy or other spirit to it.
He should always go to bed early
and should I think lie a little longer
[Page 6]
in the morning than he has been used to do.
One of his ailments is a disposition to a
watery swelling, and besides the Agrimony
and other medicines prescribed the remedy
especially adapted to obviate and remove
swellings is the Flesh brush which he
should employ every morning. The best way
of employing it upon the limbs, is by having
them pretty well rubbed before he comes
out of bed in the morning. By putting out
at first one limb, and afterwards another
a Servant may rub them successively with¬
out his being exposed to any cold.
Edinr. 4th. March
1789
Instead of giving you a separate paper I give
you my prescription on the other page which may
be cut off and sent to the Apothecary.
[Page 7]
For Lieutenant Colonel Muirhead
Take one drachm each of trefoil palustris Leaves and Chamomile Flowers, and half a drachm each of columbo Root and Ginger root. Pour over two pints of boiling water. Macerate for 12 hours and strain through paper, adding four ounces of spirit of cinnamon Water. Label: Aperient stomachic Infusion; two or three tablespoonfuls to be taken every morning before breakfast.
4th. March
1789
Diplomatic Text
Sir Lieutenant Colonel Muirhead
After considering very attentively the whole
circumstances of the Colonels complaints I find
he has some relics of the bilious complaint
and Schirrous liver which he had in India
but they are certainly much abated, and as I
judge in a way of going off entirely, and I am
happy to find that he has got a medicine, the
Agrimony which seems to have effect in
carrying off every obstruction of his bowels.
This medicine therefore he should continue
for sometime, and especially so long as it
seems to have any effect in clearing his urine.
But as his disease has affected his
stomach considerably, so I think it may [be]
useful for him to take some medicine for
strengthening that part, and also for {illeg}
any remains of Scurvy that may be in
[Page 2]
his blood. For this purpose I have given [a pre¬]
scription on the paper inclosed, which he may
get prepared at Glasgow, and take a small
cupful of it every morning before breakfast.
For the same purpose of clearing his
blood, he may about the end of next month
or beginning of May take once, twice or thrice
a week a Keysers Pill, but should desist
from them as soon as he perceives any taint
of his breath, or ↑copper taste in the mouth↑ the smallest degree of
soreness in his mouth (↑it↑).
These are the only medicines I think
necessary at present, or till I shall hear
from him further, and I depend much upon
the advance of the Season, a proper
regimen for his entire recovery.
In point of regimen his attention in
the first place must be given to avoiding cold.
He seems to do this at present by his
[Page 3]
warm Cloathings and I have only to desire that
he may not change any part of this before
the month of June, and in the mean time still
to take care not to be exposed to any degree
of cold or wet.
In avoiding these I hope he will not be
prevented from taking as much exercise
abroad as the weather will allow. He may
walk out frequently, but never long at one
time, or to any degree of fatigue, and he will
be much safer to go on horseback or in a Carriage.
The former to what length he can bear
without fatigue, but till the Season is a
good deal advanced, he will be safest in a
Carriage.
At dinner he may take a part of any
animal food, roasted or boiled, as he likes best
but the lighter kinds are to be preferred, and
the quantity should be always moderate. He
[Page 4]
may frequently take a little light white fish
but I am much afraid that the Salmond and
Herrings now coming in season, will not at
all be safe for him. Light puddings ↑to↑ fill up
his meal will be very proper. In taking vege¬
tables he must be cautious, and if he finds them
turning sour on his stomach, or passing very
windy, he must let them alone. At present
a dry mealy Potatoe, will be one of the safest
things he can take, and Broccoli is almost
the only green he can safely try, but when
Summer sets in, green Pease and young Turnip
will be very proper, and of service to his
blood. But with respect to other roots or
greens he must observe the caution mentioned
above. I think he will do wisely in continuing
to abstain from Suppers.
I forgot to enquire of him how he agrees
with Milk, or if I did enquire I forgot what
[Page 5]
account he gave me, and therefore I can only say
in general if he knows it to agree with him
he may take it for breakfast, or even for a
point of his dinner, but if it does not digest
easily, he should let it alone altogether. Whether
entire milk agrees or not, as soon as grass
milk is to be got, he may take some whey
or some very fresh Butter milk.
In point of other liquids I think neither
Tea nor Coffee are proper for him, except taken
very weak and in very moderate quantity.
Malt liquor of every kind he is to abstain
from, and from what he tells me I think he
should let alone even Wine almost entirely.
His ordinary drink should be plain water
but at meals he may put a small proportion
of Brandy or other spirit to it.
He should always go to bed early
and should I think lie a little longer
[Page 6]
in the morning than he has been used to do.
One of his ailments is a disposition to a
watery swelling, and besides the Agrimony
and other medicines prescribed the remedy
especially adapted to obviate and remove
swellings is the Flesh brush which he
should employ every morning. The best way
of employing it upon the limbs, is by having
them pretty well rubbed before he comes
out of bed in the morning. By putting out
at first one limb, and afterwards another
a Servant may rub them successively with¬
out his being exposed to any cold.
Edinr. 4th. March
1789
Instead of giving you a separate paper I give
you my prescription on the other page which may
be cut off and sent to the Apothecary.
[Page 7]
For Lieutenant Colonel Muirhead
℞ Fol. trifol. palustr.
Flor. Cham. @ ʒi
Rad. columb.
--- Zingib @ ʒſs
Affunde aq. bullient lb ij. Macera hor xij et
colaturæ per chartam adde
Aq. cinnam. spirit ℥iv
Sig Aperient stomachic Infusion two
or three table spoonfulls to be taken
every morning before breakfast.
4th. March
1789
XML
XML file not yet available.
Feedback
Send us specfic feeback about this document [DOC ID:5790]
Please note that the Cullen Project team have now disbanded but your comments will be logged in our system and we will look at them one day...