The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:750] From: Dr Alexander Stevenson (Professor; of Dalgairn ) / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Mr Alexander Trotter (Sandy Trotter) (Patient) / 15 June 1762 / (Incoming)
Letter from Alexander Stevenson in Glasgow regarding the case of Sandy Trotter, a boy possibly suffering from yaws, after a consultation by Cullen and Dr Eccles. Stevenson discusses the use of a course of mercury.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 4 images for this document.
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Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 750 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/18 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Incoming |
| Date | 15 June 1762 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Authorial original |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Letter from Alexander Stevenson in Glasgow regarding the case of Sandy Trotter, a boy possibly suffering from yaws, after a consultation by Cullen and Dr Eccles. Stevenson discusses the use of a course of mercury. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:99] |
Case of Sandy Trotter suspected of having Yaws. |
1 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:563] | Author | Dr Alexander Stevenson (Professor; of Dalgairn ) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Addressee | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:292] | Patient | Mr Alexander Trotter (Sandy Trotter) |
| [PERS ID:563] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr Alexander Stevenson (Professor; of Dalgairn ) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Other Physician / Surgeon | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:763] | Other Physician / Surgeon | Dr Eccles |
| [PERS ID:764] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Mr Trotter |
Places linked to this document
| Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Writing | Glasgow | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Destination of Letter | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
it has been my fortune to be most
of the Day on Horseback, & when I came home I got
yours & Dr Eccles' Consultation for Sandy Trotter. I
am oblig'd to be brief, but hope to give you all
that is requisite.
Whether the Case is pre¬
cisely yaws or not, I do not so positively determine,
& was the less anxious on that point; as I was of
opinion that for a foul ulcer there was no better
method of Cure, than some gentle Doses of Mercury
along with the Dec. Sarsap. - and at the same
time I never faild to find it effectual in the yaws.
Since you approve of a Course of Mercury in an Obsti¬
nate Case of that sort - we have no Reason to doubt that a
few gentle Doses may produce a good effect, or altogether
remove the Slighter Symptoms.
We had our
thoughts on the Solution of the Corrosive, which is the
Medicine I have us'd most with Adults - but did
not chuse to give it here as it was dissolved in Spirit
& the Name still more dreadful to an Intelligent and
anxious father. I have never us'd it with an Aqueous
Menstruum - tho' it may perhaps do as well. But as
you mention some preparation of it that you prefer
[Page 2]
I will be oblig'd to you to let me know what
it is -
I have been very sensible of the good
effects of the Ung. Ægypt. when I thought the Disease
local - but in most Cases postpon'd till the disposition
of the humours was mended by Alteratives: and I
make no doubt of its doing well here, if at all necessary.
But to Day, I found our Patient evidently better
the Ulcers clean & more Superficial - and as
to his health - in other respects - every body in
the family assures me that they have not seen him
so well this Month past - he eats & Sleeps well &
is more cheerfull than formerly. You may beleive
we were abundantly cautious in giving him his
medicines & seeing him twice a day - we have
it in our power to check it or urge it if necessary
and in this way you know that Mercury is as in¬
nocent a medicine as most in our Shops.
As to the Peruvian Bark, it was my Intention
to have given it after the Glandular Obstructions
might have been remov'd by the above Course
when I imagin'd its operation wou'd be attended
with greater Safety & better Consequences. But if you
by Dr Eccles are clear for using it now - it shall be given
[Page 3]
He has continued his Womens Milk all along.
I have said more than I thought my time
wou'd have admitted, & perhaps more than was
necessary, when it was to you I wrote -
Compliments to Mr Trotter & Dr Eccles & am
Dear Dr with great regard
your most Obedient humble servant
To Dr Cullen
[Page 3]
✍
Doctor Stevenson
Glasgow 15 June
1762
1762
Diplomatic Text
it has been my fortune to be most
of the Day on Horseback, & when I came home I got
yours & Dr Eccles' Consultation for Sandy Trotter. I
am oblig'd to be brief, but hope to give you all
that is requisite.
Whether the Case is pre¬
cisely yaws or not, I do not so positively determine,
& was the less anxious on that point; as I was of
opinion that for a foul ulcer there was no better
method of Cure, than some gentle Doses of Mercury
along with the Dec. Sarsap. - and at the same
time I never faild to find it effectual in the yaws.
Since you approve of a Course of Mercury in an Obsti¬
nate Case of that sort - we have no Reason to doubt that a
few gentle Doses may produce a good effect, or altogether
remove the Slighter Symptoms.
We had our
thoughts on the Solution of the Corrosive, which is the
Medicine I have us'd most with Adults - but did
not chuse to give it here as it was dissolved in Spirit
& the Name still more dreadful to an Intelligent and
anxious father. I have never us'd it with an Aqueous
Menstruum - tho' it may perhaps do as well. But as
you mention some preparation of it that you prefer
[Page 2]
I will be oblig'd to you to let me know what
it is -
I have been very sensible of the good
effects of the Ung. Ægypt. when I thought the Disease
local - but in most Cases postpon'd till the disposition
of the humours was mended by Alteratives: and I
make no doubt of its doing well here, if at all necessary.
But to Day, I found our Patient evidently better
the Ulcers clean & more Superficial - and as
to his health - in other respects - every body in
the family assures me that they have not seen him
so well this Month past - he eats & Sleeps well &
is more cheerfull than formerly. You may beleive
we were abundantly cautious in giving him his
medicines & seeing him twice a day - we have
it in our power to check it or urge it if necessary
and in this way you know that Mercury is as in¬
nocent a medicine as most in our Shops.
As to the Peruvian Bark, it was my Intention
to have given it after the Glandular Obstructions
might have been remov'd by the above Course
when I imagin'd its operation wou'd be attended
with greater Safety & better Consequences. But if you
by Dr Eccles are clear for using it now - it shall be given
[Page 3]
He has continued his Womens Milk all along.
I have said more than I thought my time
wou'd have admitted, & perhaps more than was
necessary, when it was to you I wrote -
Compts to Mr Trotter & Dr Eccles & am
Dr Dr with great regard
your most Obedt humble servant
To Dr Cullen
[Page 3]
✍
Doctor Stevenson
Glasgow 15 June
1762
1762
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