The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:711] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Dr William Hamilton (in Glasgow) / Regarding: Mr Thomas Alston (Patient) / 17 February 1783 / (Outgoing)
Reply, 'Mr Hamilton C[oncerning] Mr Alston'. Cullen is 'at a loss how to proceed', given the patient's deterioration. He suggests that 'nothing but the supposition of something fixed in the system, such as a tubercle in the lungs can account for the disease resisting the whole of the antiphlogistic measures that have been employed.' An immediate voyage to the South is suggested.
- 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 | 711 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/15/198 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 17 February 1783 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Machine scribal copy |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply, 'Mr Hamilton C[oncerning] Mr Alston'. Cullen is 'at a loss how to proceed', given the patient's deterioration. He suggests that 'nothing but the supposition of something fixed in the system, such as a tubercle in the lungs can account for the disease resisting the whole of the antiphlogistic measures that have been employed.' An immediate voyage to the South is suggested. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:671] |
Case of Mr Thomas Alston who spits blood and consequently has a poor prognosis and whose case eventually proves fatal. |
13 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:175] | Addressee | Dr William Hamilton (in Glasgow) |
| [PERS ID:554] | Patient | Mr Thomas Alston |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:175] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Hamilton (in Glasgow) |
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 | Glasgow | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
Mr Hamilton Concerning Mr Alston
I am very sorry to have your accounts of Mr.
Alston and as well as you are I am at a loss how to pro¬
ceed. His spitting of blood, frequency of pulse & the appea¬
rance of the blood itself seem strongly to indicate the
repeated bleedings that were practiced but neither
these nor the low diet employed seem to have answered
this purpose and the Œdematous swelling that appea¬
red gives even a suspicion that the bleeding had gone
rather too far: nothing but the supposition of something
fixed in the System such as a tubercle in the lungs
can account for the disease resisting the whole of
the Antiphlogistic measures that have been employed.
I have a very unfavourable View of the case & little
I think is to be expected from insisting on the
measures hitherto pursued & the only advice I can
now offer is that he should immediately enter
upon a Journey or a Voyage if the latter can be
[Page 2]
conveniently executed. In whatever shape he moves his
course must be directed to the South & proceed in that way
till he meets with a very mild & almost warm Climate:
he may reside there for a little while, but at this season
he cannot reside long for in such places considerable
heats may soon set in & whenever they do he should
then leave these places & return again to the North.
This is the only advice I can offer at present and have
only to add that wherever he goes though his Anti¬
phlogistic regimen has not been ↑so↑ successful as we
wished I think it cannot be entirely deserted.
Wishing better health to your patient & every good
thing to yourself I am most sincerely Dear William
February 1783
Diplomatic Text
Mr Hamilton C Mr Alston
I am very sorry to have your accounts of Mr.
Alston and as well as you are I am at a loss how to pro¬
ceed. His spitting of blood, frequency of pulse & the appea¬
rance of the blood itself seem strongly to indicate the
repeated bleedings that were practiced but neither
these nor the low diet employed seem to have answered
this purpose and the Œdematous swelling that appea¬
red gives even a suspicion that the bleeding had gone
rather too far: nothing but the supposition of something
fixed in the System such as a tubercle in the lungs
can account for the disease resisting the whole of
the Antiphlogistic measures that have been employed.
I have a very unfavourable View of the case & little
I think is to be expected from insisting on the
measures hitherto pursued & the only advice I can
now offer is that he should immediately enter
upon a Journey or a Voyage if the latter can be
[Page 2]
conveniently executed. In whatever shape he moves his
course must be directed to the South & proceed in that way
till he meets with a very mild & almost warm Climate:
he may reside there for a little while, but at this season
he cannot reside long for in such places considerable
heats may soon set in & whenever they do he should
then leave these places & return again to the North.
This is the only advice I can offer at present and have
only to add that wherever he goes though his Anti¬
phlogistic regimen has not been ↑so↑ successful as we
wished I think it cannot be entirely deserted.
Wishing better health to your patient & every good
thing to yourself I am most sincerely Dear William
Febry. 1783
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