Cullen

The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh

 

[ID:715] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: [ADDRESSEE UNKNOWN] / Regarding: Miss J Campbell (Patient) / 23 February 1780 / (Outgoing)

Reply to Dr Leslie regarding the case of Miss J. Campbell. Cullen agrees with Dr Saunders and Mr Leslie with respect to the nature of her disease, but disagrees on the cause, believing that 'the whole of her ailments proceeded more from the state of her mind than of her body'.

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Metadata

FieldData
DOC ID 715
RCPE Catalogue Number CUL/1/1/15/202
Main Language English
Document Direction Outgoing
Date23 February 1780
Annotation None
TypeMachine copy
Enclosure(s) No enclosure(s)
Autopsy No
Recipe No
Regimen No
Letter of Introduction No
Case Note No
Summary Reply to Dr Leslie regarding the case of Miss J. Campbell. Cullen agrees with Dr Saunders and Mr Leslie with respect to the nature of her disease, but disagrees on the cause, believing that 'the whole of her ailments proceeded more from the state of her mind than of her body'.
Manuscript Incomplete? No
Evidence of Commercial Posting No

Case

Cases that this document belongs to:

Case ID Description Num Docs
[Case ID:1289]
Case of Miss J. Campbell who has a persistent stomach disorder.
4


People linked to this document

Person IDRole in documentPerson
[PERS ID:1]AuthorDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:2742]PatientMiss J Campbell
[PERS ID:1]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:2815]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryMr Patrick Duguid Leslie

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 Durham North-East England Europe inferred
Mentioned / Other Edinburgh Edinburgh and East Scotland Europe certain
Mentioned / Other London London and South-East England Europe certain

Normalized Text

[Page 1]

For Miss I. Campbell


After considering attentively the account trans¬
mitted from London and having received every pos¬
sible information from the gentlewoman who had
attended Miss on her journey hither and for sometime
before; I am of the Same opinion with Dr Saunders
and Mr Leslie with respect to the nature of her
disease but do not agree entirely with these gentle¬
men concerning the cause. I am persuaded that
the whole of her ailments proceeded more from the
State of her mind than of her body and particularly
that her return to this country will be the means
of removing all her complaints. The entire health
which Miss has had upon her journey and ever since
She came to Edinburgh confirms ↑me↑ in this and though
it may be alleged that her health cannot be entire
while obstruction remains and that this opinion is



[Page 2]

very just I allow but as I am persuaded that this
obstruction will be Spontaneously removed as the
season advances; I don't think any medicines are
at present necessary or adviseable. Medicines for
removing the obstruction are the only ones which could
be employed with any propriety but as I believe they
would be as ineffectual as they have hitherto been till
the Season is Somewhat advanced, unless there Shall --
appear to be ↑more↑ reason than at present I would Still
delay their use pot for perhaps a month or two. I have
very little faith in either ↑the↑ powders or infusion that
were employed at London and though I have a better
opinion of the electricity I think it was applied with
too much violence and I believe Miss Campbell --
would be very averse to return to the use of it and
even on this account I am averse to employ it without
Seeing more necessity for it than I do at present.


Upon the whole of this plan it will appear that
I have nothing to advise but what I judge proper



[Page 3]

in the way of regimen. To this purpose I advise a
due attention to keeping her mind easy but in some
moderate and agreeable employment. Amusement is
very proper but any riotous mirth would be very hazardous.


She Should be as much in the fresh air as the state
of the weather will allow. Walking is a very proper --
exercise but Should never be carried So far as to be either
heating but it is difficult to keep it within due bounds.
Private Parties are more Safe than publick places.
and the latter are particularly hazardous if they are
crowded & warm. Riding on horseback might be of
service but weather and some other considerations
make me judge that exercise in a Single horse chaise
that may be open or covered at pleasure is of all others
the most proper for Miss Campbell and this exercise
She Should have as often as weather & convenience allow.


Every morning partly before She gets out of bed and partly
after She is up She Should have her limbs pretty well
rubbed



[Page 4]

rubbed with flannel from the haunches downwards.


In diet a middle kind must be employed a low
diet of vegetables would be very improper but the heavier
kinds of animal food would be no less so. Cocoa tea will
with Some dry toast and a little butter will be the most
proper breakfast. At dinner every day she may have
Some of the lighter kinds of animal food plain dressed
that is boiled or roasted but neither baked nor fried. --
Before her solid meat She may take any kind of broth
She likes best and along with her meat She may take
any kind of roots or greens the Season affords and after
it She may take any kind of light pudding or tarts.
Sometimes at dinner she may have a little light fish
but neither Salmon nor herrings do I consider as Such.
For ordinary drink she may take water, wine & water
or Small beer as She likes best but good porter with
two parts of water mixed with it I should think the
best of all. Before dinner every day She may take very
properly a glass or two of Sherry or rather good Lisbon.



[Page 5]

At Supper Miss Campbell Should take no animal food
at all and not even an egg. She may take any kind
of vegetable or if she digests it easily Some kind of
milkmeat. She should always go to bed early at
night and by too long in the morning. There is
nothing of more consequence to Miss Campbell than
guarding against cold. She should be always warmly
cloathed in every respect but more especially Should
take care of her feet and legs.


William Cullen

Edinburgh 23.d February
1783.

Diplomatic Text

[Page 1]

For Miss I. Campbell


After considering attentively the account trans¬
mitted from London and having received every pos¬
sible information from the gentlewoman who had
attended Miss on her journey hither and for sometime
before; I am of the Same opinion with Dr Saunders
and Mr Leslie with respect to the nature of her
disease but do not agree entirely with these gentle¬
men concerning the cause. I am persuaded that
the whole of her ailments proceeded more from the
State of her mind than of her body and particularly
that her return to this country will be the means
of removing all her complaints. The entire health
which Miss has had upon her journey and ever since
She came to Edinburgh confirms ↑me↑ in this and though
it may be alleged that her health cannot be entire
while obstruction remains and that this opinion is



[Page 2]

very just I allow but as I am persuaded that this
obstruction will be Spontaneously removed as the
season advances; I don't think any medicines are
at present necessary or adviseable. Medicines for
removing the obstruction are the only ones which could
be employed with any propriety but as I believe they
would be as ineffectual as they have hitherto been till
the Season is Somewhat advanced, unless there Shall --
appear to be ↑more↑ reason than at present I would Still
delay their use pot for perhaps a month or two. I have
very little faith in either ↑the↑ powders or infusion that
were employed at London and though I have a better
opinion of the electricity I think it was applied with
too much violence and I believe Miss Campbell --
would be very averse to return to the use of it and
even on this account I am averse to employ it without
Seeing more necessity for it than I do at present.


Upon the whole of this plan it will appear that
I have nothing to advise but what I judge proper



[Page 3]

in the way of regimen. To this purpose I advise a
due attention to keeping her mind easy but in some
moderate and agreeable employment. Amusement is
very proper but any riotous mirth would be very hazardous.


She Should be as much in the fresh air as the state
of the weather will allow. Walking is a very proper --
exercise but Should never be carried So far as to be either
heating but it is difficult to keep it within due bounds.
Private Parties are more Safe than publick places.
and the latter are particularly hazardous if they are
crowded & warm. Riding on horseback might be of
service but weather and some other considerations
make me judge that exercise in a Single horse chaise
that may be open or covered at pleasure is of all others
the most proper for Miss Campbell and this exercise
She Should have as often as weather & convenience allow.


Every morning partly before She gets out of bed and partly
after She is up She Should have her limbs pretty well
rubbed



[Page 4]

rubbed with flannel from the haunches downwards.


In diet a middle kind must be employed a low
diet of vegetables would be very improper but the heavier
kinds of animal food would be no less so. Cocoa tea will
with Some dry toast and a little butter will be the most
proper breakfast. At dinner every day she may have
Some of the lighter kinds of animal food plain dressed
that is boiled or roasted but neither baked nor fried. --
Before her solid meat She may take any kind of broth
She likes best and along with her meat She may take
any kind of roots or greens the Season affords and after
it She may take any kind of light pudding or tarts.
Sometimes at dinner she may have a little light fish
but neither Salmon nor herrings do I consider as Such.
For ordinary drink she may take water, wine & water
or Small beer as She likes best but good porter with
two parts of water mixed with it I should think the
best of all. Before dinner every day She may take very
properly a glass or two of Sherry or rather good Lisbon.



[Page 5]

At Supper Miss Campbell Should take no animal food
at all and not even an egg. She may take any kind
of vegetable or if she digests it easily Some kind of
milkmeat. She should always go to bed early at
night and by too long in the morning. There is
nothing of more consequence to Miss Campbell than
guarding against cold. She should be always warmly
cloathed in every respect but more especially Should
take care of her feet and legs.


William Cullen

Edin.r 23.d Feb.ry
1783.

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