The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:755] From: Dr Alexander Stevenson (Professor; of Dalgairn ) / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Miss Ritchie (Patient) / 17 September 1762 / (Incoming)
Letter from Dr (Prof) Alexander Stevenson concerning the seven-month-old daughter of Mr Ritchie, who is once again suffering from fits. Stevenson asks Cullen's advice on her continued treatment and care, including questioning whether she should be weaned.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 3 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
[Page 3]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 755 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/23 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Incoming |
| Date | 17 September 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 Dr (Prof) Alexander Stevenson concerning the seven-month-old daughter of Mr Ritchie, who is once again suffering from fits. Stevenson asks Cullen's advice on her continued treatment and care, including questioning whether she should be weaned. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:98] |
Case of the seven-month-old daughter of Mr Ritchie, once again suffering from fits. |
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:294] | Patient | Miss Ritchie |
| [PERS ID:563] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr Alexander Stevenson (Professor; of Dalgairn ) |
| [PERS ID:769] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr John Moore |
| [PERS ID:1215] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Mr Ritchie |
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
I have lately been called to see a patient
of yours, Mr Ritchies Infant; She seem'd to agree very
well with the Course you first put her on, of the Rhubarb &
Testacea, as by their use she has kept free of the fits for many
weeks. Since that time they have recurr'd - nor did
she find any releif from the Volatile Drops or Musk.
Her fits have already been minutely describ'd to you
by Mr Moore - I shall only add, that to appearance I find
nothing differing from a healthy Child - particularly her
Head is nothing larger than common. She seems instead
to have a redundancy of Saliva, which I am told was
the Case with her all along. Her belly had generally rather
a tendency to Costiveness - but now & then a Looseness
succeeds with Colic pains & green Stools, which happend
her last week, & therefore she is put on a Course of Absorbents
as before, with Rhubarb & a little pouder of Nutmeg at times.
I wish we were able to determine whether the
Disease depended on a particular Structure of the brain
or on any Extravasation there -- Or if it is rather the
effect of some Irritation of the Gums or Guts - in which
Case we might flatter ourselves with a more favourable event.
No Teeth have hitherto pointed, & I look on the
[Page 2]
Explosions from the Stomach on the going off of the
fit, to be attributed to the wind making its escape after the
Relaxation, which succeeds the Spasm that had pent it up.
I have hitherto laid doun no plan - but take the
Liberty to mention to you what I thought most proper
expecting what Alterations or Additions you think right.
Wou'd you approve of her being wean'd, now that she
is about Seven months old? & might not her change
of living be to her advantage?
Might not an Issue again be tried about the Bregma
or Neck? -- And the Cold Bath still continued?
Might not the regular use of the white Magnesia with
the change of her Milk Diet, prevent her Costiveness and
the return of the green Stools -- & lastly -
Is there any probability, that the Bark (in whatever
way exhibited) may strengthen the whole System, lessen
the Irritability of the Nerves - destroy worms - or specifically
remedy the disorder? -- There will always be a difficulty
in giving it to any extent. I shall be glad to have
your Advice so soon as convenient
regard Dear Dr your most Obedient Servant
[Page 3]
✍
1762
Diplomatic Text
I have lately been called to see a patient
of yours, Mr Ritchies Infant; She seem'd to agree very
well with the Course you first put her on, of the Rhubarb &
Testacea, as by their use she has kept free of the fits for many
weeks. Since that time they have recurr'd - nor did
she find any releif from the Volatile Drops or Musk.
Her fits have already been minutely describ'd to you
by Mr Moore - I shall only add, that to appearance I find
nothing differing from a healthy Child - particularly her
Head is nothing larger than common. She seems instead
to have a redundancy of Saliva, which I am told was
the Case with her all along. Her belly had generally rather
a tendency to Costiveness - but now & then a Looseness
succeeds with Colic pains & green Stools, which happend
her last week, & therefore she is put on a Course of Absorbents
as before, with Rhubarb & a little pouder of Nutmeg at times.
I wish we were able to determine whether the
Disease depended on a particular Structure of the brain
or on any Extravasation there -- Or if it is rather the
effect of some Irritation of the Gums or Guts - in which
Case we might flatter ourselves with a more favourable event.
No Teeth have hitherto pointed, & I look on the
[Page 2]
Explosions from the Stomach on the going off of the
fit, to be attributed to the wind making its escape after the
Relaxation, which succeeds the Spasm that had pent it up.
I have hitherto laid doun no plan - but take the
Liberty to mention to you what I thought most proper
expecting what Alterations or Additions you think right.
Wou'd you approve of her being wean'd, now that she
is about Seven months old? & might not her change
of living be to her advantage?
Might not an Issue again be tried about the Bregma
or Neck? -- And the Cold Bath still continued?
Might not the regular use of the white Magnesia with
the change of her Milk Diet, prevent her Costiveness and
the return of the green Stools -- & lastly -
Is there any probability, that the Bark (in whatever
way exhibited) may strengthen the whole System, lessen
the Irritability of the Nerves - destroy worms - or specifically
remedy the disorder? -- There will always be a difficulty
in giving it to any extent. I shall be glad to have
your Advice so soon as convenient
regard Dear Dr your most Obedt Servant
[Page 3]
✍
1762
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