The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:604] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Mr John Short / Regarding: Mr Thomas Smith (Patient) / 15 July 1782 / (Outgoing)
Reply, 'Mr Short C[oncerning] Mr Smith'. "I am ready to despair of our doing him much service by medicines and at same time I am doubtfull of the safety of electricity".
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 2 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 604 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/15/89 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 15 July 1782 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Machine copy |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply, 'Mr Short C[oncerning] Mr Smith'. "I am ready to despair of our doing him much service by medicines and at same time I am doubtfull of the safety of electricity". |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1032] |
Case of Mr Thomas Smith who is feverish and 'fatuous' and then suffers a paralytic stroke. |
6 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:671] | Addressee | Mr John Short |
| [PERS ID:2973] | Patient | Mr Thomas Smith |
| [PERS ID:671] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Mr John Short |
| [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 | Bo'ness (Borness / Borrowstouneness) | Mid Scotland | Scotland | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
Mr Short Concerning Mr Smith
I am sorry to find Mr Smiths disease
no better and rather worse. I am ready to despair of our
doing him much service by medicines and at same time
I am doubtfull of the safety or Electricity. However I agree
to its being tried but expressly in condition that it is tried
in a gentle manner and upon the extremities only, taking
care that the head is never taken in to the electric circuit.
While you are trying this I think there is no such pro¬
bability of its success as to all supersede the use of medicines
particularly I think it necessary that you should constantly
obviate or remove costiveness by the Gamboge pills or what
else you find to answer. If you are obliged to give the
Gamboge pills very often you may throw in more Mercury
than may be convenient. Consider therefore whether it
may not be proper to have a pill without Mercury which
may be used freely but consider also that the Mercury
is one of the most usefull remedies and therefore should be
[Page 2]
thrown in no often as you can find it safe. The only other
remedy I can propose at present is a perpetual Issue in
the crown of the head, but with this you may still con¬
tinue the Squills and if they are properly dried ↑they↑ may not
only prove diuretic but may also move the belly.
With respect to the questions about ↑Wine↑ I think he may
not only have a little in his bread berry but may also have
a glass of wine both after dinner and supper.
With Compliments to Mr Smiths friends I am
always
Edinburgh 15th July
1782
Diplomatic Text
Mr Short C Mr Smith
I am sorry to find Mr Smiths disease
no better and rather worse. I am ready to despair of our
doing him much service by medicines and at same time
I am doubtfull of the safety or Electricity. However I agree
to its being tried but expressly in condition that it is tried
in a gentle manner and upon the extremities only, taking
care that the head is never taken in to the electric circuit.
While you are trying this I think there is no such pro¬
bability of its success as to all supersede the use of medicines
particularly I think it necessary that you should constantly
obviate or remove costiveness by the Gamboge pills or what
else you find to answer. If you are obliged to give the
Gamboge pills very often you may throw in more Mercury
than may be convenient. Consider therefore whether it
may not be proper to have a pill without Mercury which
may be used freely but consider also that the Mercury
is one of the most usefull remedies and therefore should be
[Page 2]
thrown in no often as you can find it safe. The only other
remedy I can propose at present is a perpetual Issue in
the crown of the head, but with this you may still con¬
tinue the Squills and if they are properly dried ↑they↑ may not
only prove diuretic but may also move the belly.
With respect to the questions about ↑Wine↑ I think he may
not only have a little in his bread berry but may also have
a glass of wine both after dinner and supper.
With Compliments to Mr Smiths friends I am
always
Edinr. 15th July
1782
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