The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:781] From: Dr John Duncanson (Duncason) / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Mrs Jean Campbell (Campble, of Silvercraigs) (Patient) / 6 May 1766 / (Incoming)
Letter from John Duncanson in Inveraray regarding the case of Mrs Campbell, wife of Provost Campbell, who has a history of miscarriages and is now suffering from pains in the sixth month of her pregnancy. A postscript adds that Duncanson is 'like to be forced into a Military life' and mentions the possibility of 'Vaccancies in America'.
- 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 | 781 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/49 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Incoming |
| Date | 6 May 1766 |
| 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 John Duncanson in Inveraray regarding the case of Mrs Campbell, wife of Provost Campbell, who has a history of miscarriages and is now suffering from pains in the sixth month of her pregnancy. A postscript adds that Duncanson is 'like to be forced into a Military life' and mentions the possibility of 'Vaccancies in America'. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:121] |
Case of Mrs Campbell who has had several miscarriages and who is diagnosed as having a 'weak uterine system'. |
5 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:310] | Author | Dr John Duncanson (Duncason) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Addressee | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:303] | Patient | Mrs Jean Campbell (Campble, of Silvercraigs) |
| [PERS ID:139] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Mr Willsone (Willson, Wilson) |
| [PERS ID:310] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr John Duncanson (Duncason) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:1144] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Provost James Campbell (of Silvercraigs, Provost of Inverary) |
| [PERS ID:1145] | Other | Mr John Graham |
Places linked to this document
| Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Writing | Inveraray | West Highlands | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Destination of Letter | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | inferred | |
| Mentioned / Other | North America | certain |
Normalized Text
At desire of Provost Campbell of this
place I send you the following case for your advice & directions
The Patient is 26 years is the Mother of
3 daughters & a son, the daughters birth preceeds the time I begin
with -- her Constitution rather Robust & complexion florid.
About four years ago she suffered an Abortion in the
third month of her pregnancy, the secundines remaining for
three days thereafter -- Since that time had frequent abortions
at the 7th and 8t weeks of Pregnancy and always ↑after↑ when Pregnant
has been much distressed with a Fluor Albus about 20 months
ago bore her Son - The Patient is now in the sixth month of pregnan¬
cy at the 7th or 8t week of which, was threatn'd as formerly
complaining of Pains in the Back & Loins & discharge from
the Uterus of a Bloody couloured water which tinctured the
shift a Month afterwards the same symptoms recurred at
both times she was Blooded took astringent medicines as
[Bol.?] Sana Dracon Terr Japon Tinct. Ros. Rub. &c but as
the symptoms dissapeared the medecines were dissused.
This last fourthnight the Discharge is not Bloody, but
she is attacked every 2d or third day with what she calls a
Gush of water from the Uterus to the quantity (as she judges)
[Page 2]
of half a pint & this has been hitherto preceded by pain of her
Back & Sickness, which go off upon that Discharge which is
instantaneous - I should have Observed that the Bloody
couloured Discharged water continued red till about three
weeks ago, & till then returned Periodicaly Monthly only
When I mention the quantity now to be half a pint I ought
to have told you that it has been in much greater than it
is for the two last times -
The Patient quickened at the
usual time but imagines the infant does not move so strong
as she has felt in ↑her↑ other Children, at sometimes she feells vrey
swamp about the waist, at others bulky as she used to be
when in the same situation
Her pulse is equal & calm,
her apetite tollerable, sleeps ↑well↑, is chearfull, & lively Her Diet
has been hitherto nourishing, & easy of Digestion, at my desire
she keeps much in bed, drinks a Glass of Claret after dinner
& supper, warm milk & Conserve of Roses with Gum Arab in the
morning, Gills ↑of veal↑ &c betwixt meals & wears a plaister ex {illeg}
& Emp Defens Dorso 1 . & this method I intend to continue till I have
your reply to this I remain Sir
[Page 3]
Since I wrote the preceeding I find Mrs Campbell has had a return
of the Discharge in greater quantity than the two former times
the last was Yesterday, so that the returns seem to threaten more
she had this day none of the Symptoms which preceeded the
Discharge formerly -
You would find by a Letter of mine to Mr
John Graham that I am like to be forced into a Military life, I
have no doubt but you have given him the Certificate of my
abilities in my proffession I desired, as I must remove for
sometime from the half ↑pay↑ a Regiment of Dragoons is more Eligeable
than any of foot, & as I am first upon the List & that there are
some Vaccancies in America, should certainly be nominated
to one of them, unless I prevent it, by accepting this now promised
I mean one of Dragoons, for I am very loth to drop my half pay
Notes:
1: This passage is not entirely clear; the illegible word appears to begin 'Oxy...', but the remaining letters do not suggest any obvious term (Oxymelis, being an obvious contender). The phrase as a whole implies that she wears a medicated plaister backed-up with an Emplastrum (surgical blister) designed to draw-out bad humours. Although Cullen approves the use of the plaister in his reply, he does not mention the ingredients.
Diplomatic Text
At desire of Provost Campbell of this
place I send you the following case for your advice & directions
The Patient is 26 years is the Mother of
3 daughters & a son, the daughters birth preceeds the time I begin
with -- her Constitution rather Robust & complexion florid.
About four years ago she suffered an Abortion in the
third month of her pregnancy, the secundines remaining for
three days thereafter -- Since that time had frequent abortions
at the 7th and 8t weeks of Pregnancy and always ↑after↑ when Pregnant
has been much distressed with a Fluor Albus about 20 months
ago bore her Son - The Patient is now in the sixth month of pregnan¬
cy at the 7th or 8t week of which, was threatn'd as formerly
complaining of Pains in the Back & Loins & discharge from
the Uterus of a Bloody couloured water which tinctured the
shift a Month afterwards the same symptoms recurred at
both times she was Blooded took astringent medicines as
[Bol.?] Sana Dracon Terr Japon Tinct. Ros. Rub. &c but as
the symptoms dissapeared the medecines were dissused.
This last fourthnight the Discharge is not Bloody, but
she is attacked every 2d or third day with what she calls a
Gush of water from the Uterus to the quantity (as she judges)
[Page 2]
of half a pint & this has been hitherto preceded by pain of her
Back & Sickness, which go off upon that Discharge which is
instantaneous - I should have Observed that the Bloody
couloured Discharged water continued red till about three
weeks ago, & till then returned Periodicaly Monthly only
When I mention the quantity now to be half a pint I ought
to have told you that it has been in much greater than it
is for the two last times -
The Patient quickened at the
usual time but imagines the infant does not move so strong
as she has felt in ↑her↑ other Children, at sometimes she feells vrey
swamp about the waist, at others bulky as she used to be
when in the same situation
Her pulse is equal & calm,
her apetite tollerable, sleeps ↑well↑, is chearfull, & lively Her Diet
has been hitherto nourishing, & easy of Digestion, at my desire
she keeps much in bed, drinks a Glass of Claret after dinner
& supper, warm milk & Conserve of Roses wt Gum Arab in the
morning, Gills ↑of veal↑ &c betwixt meals & wears a plaister ex {illeg}
& Emp Defens Dorso 1 . & this method I intend to continue till I have
your reply to this I remain Sir
[Page 3]
Since I wrote the preceeding I find Mrs Campbell has had a return
of the Discharge in greater quantity than the two former times
the last was Yesterday, so that the returns seem to threaten more
she had this day none of the Symptoms which preceeded the
Discharge formerly -
You would find by a Letter of mine to Mr
John Graham that I am like to be forced into a Military life, I
have no doubt but you have given him the Certificate of my
abilities in my proffession I desired, as I must remove for
sometime from the half ↑pay↑ a Regimt of Dragoons is more Eligeable
than any of foot, & as I am first upon the List & that there are
some Vaccancies in America, should certainly be nominated
to one of them, unless I prevent it, by accepting this now promised
I mean one of Dragoons, for I am very loth to drop my half pay
Notes:
1: This passage is not entirely clear; the illegible word appears to begin 'Oxy...', but the remaining letters do not suggest any obvious term (Oxymelis, being an obvious contender). The phrase as a whole implies that she wears a medicated plaister backed-up with an Emplastrum (surgical blister) designed to draw-out bad humours. Although Cullen approves the use of the plaister in his reply, he does not mention the ingredients.
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