The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:6257] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Mr T Kinkead / Regarding: Mr T Kinkead (Patient) / 18 March 1782 / (Outgoing)
Reply to T. Kinkead, who sent his own case history on the 10th March. Working as a ship's surgeon, his health was undermined in the West Indies. The destination of Letter has been recorded as 'Portsmouth', where the ship was docked. External evidence suggests this was likely HMS Harpy.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 3 images for this document.
[Page 1]
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Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 6257 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/14/193 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 18 March 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 to T. Kinkead, who sent his own case history on the 10th March. Working as a ship's surgeon, his health was undermined in the West Indies. The destination of Letter has been recorded as 'Portsmouth', where the ship was docked. External evidence suggests this was likely HMS Harpy. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1456] |
Case of T. Kinkead, ship's surgeon and Cullen's former student, who has often had nose-bleeds and whose health has declined since returning from the West Indies where he had a fever. |
2 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:4533] | Addressee | Mr T Kinkead |
| [PERS ID:4533] | Patient | Mr T Kinkead |
| [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 | Portsmouth | London and South-East | England | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
I have recieved yours of the 10th
and hope I understand your Case and shall willingly
give you my opinion and advice.
From an early age, you have been disposed to
become plethoric, and this was relieved by a Hemorr¬
hagy from the Nose, which alternately have occasion
to its recurrence and relief This habit however was
broken off by your fever in the West Indies; but
has now again recurred and as might be expected
at your present time of life especially affects the
lungs, and the warmth of the place in which you
was detained so long more than the foul air of it
was the exciting cause of its more considerable
recurrence. You are now to consider your Lungs
as commonly in a Plethoric State, which the
[Page 2]
Hæmoptysis is not considerable enough to relieve
and while the sense of weight and oppression with
the difficulty of breathing upon any ascent or more
considerable exercise remain, you must consider
your Lungs as too full, for which however
I do not consider as having a tendency to Phthisis
but rather to somewhat of Spasmodic Asthma.
To obviate either consequence, you must take to
a low Diet, and wherever you are, you must as
much as possible avoid bodily motion; but when
you are in Port you should go on Horseback or
in a Carriage as often as you conveniently can.
The Bark I think an improper remedy, but
the Elixirs of Vitriol or other Acids may be
useful. In Case of a great infarction and unea¬
siness of breathing you may lose some blood; but
as blood letting disposes to Plethora, you should
[Page 3]
employ it only in case of necessity. When you
go to sea as Animal food is in any shape impro¬
per, so salted meats are of all kinds the worst.
You should therefore provide yourself with all
Kinds of Farinacea and Fruit. I need hardly say
that strong drink of all kinds is very improper
for you. Wishing you heartily better health,
I am Sir
your most obedient servant
Edinburgh March 18
1782
Diplomatic Text
I have recieved yours of the 10th
and hope I understand your Case and shall willingly
give you my opinion and advice.
From an early age, you have been disposed to
become plethoric, and this was relieved by a Hemorr¬
hagy from the Nose, which alternately have occasion
to its recurrence and relief This habit however was
broken off by your fever in the West Indies; but
has now again recurred and as might be expected
at your present time of life especially affects the
lungs, and the warmth of the place in which you
was detained so long more than the foul air of it
was the exciting cause of its more considerable
recurrence. You are now to consider your Lungs
as commonly in a Plethoric State, which the
[Page 2]
Hæmoptysis is not considerable enough to relieve
and while the sense of weight and oppression with
the difficulty of breathing upon any ascent or more
considerable exercise remain, you must consider
your Lungs as too full, for which however
I do not consider as having a tendency to Phthisis
but rather to somewhat of Spasmodic Asthma.
To obviate either consequence, you must take to
a low Diet, and wherever you are, you must as
much as possible avoid bodily motion; but when
you are in Port you should go on Horseback or
in a Carriage as often as you conveniently can.
The Bark I think an improper remedy, but
the Elixirs of Vitriol or other Acids may be
useful. In Case of a great infarction and unea¬
siness of breathing you may lose some blood; but
as blood letting disposes to Plethora, you should
[Page 3]
employ it only in case of necessity. When you
go to sea as Animal food is in any shape impro¬
per, so salted meats are of all kinds the worst.
You should therefore provide yourself with all
Kinds of Farinacea and Fruit. I need hardly say
that strong drink of all kinds is very improper
for you. Wishing you heartily better health,
I am Sir
your most obedient servant
Edinr March 18
1782
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