Cullen

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

 

[ID:788] From: Mr Neill Menzies / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Miss Ruthven (Patient) / 1 June 1766 / (Incoming)

Letter from Neill Menzies on the case of Lord Ruthven's daughter, describing her response to the treatments of bathing and leeches.

Facsimile

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Metadata

FieldData
DOC ID 788
RCPE Catalogue Number CUL/1/2/56
Main Language English
Document Direction Incoming
Date1 June 1766
Annotation None
TypeAuthorial original
Enclosure(s) No enclosure(s)
Autopsy No
Recipe No
Regimen No
Letter of Introduction No
Case Note No
Summary Letter from Neill Menzies on the case of Lord Ruthven's daughter, describing her response to the treatments of bathing and leeches.
Manuscript Incomplete? No
Evidence of Commercial Posting Yes

Case

Cases that this document belongs to:

Case ID Description Num Docs
[Case ID:76]
Case of Miss Ruthven who has various serious complaints including 'wandering pains' and spitting blood.
3


People linked to this document

Person IDRole in documentPerson
[PERS ID:307]AuthorMr Neill Menzies
[PERS ID:1]AddresseeDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:308]PatientMiss Ruthven
[PERS ID:307]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryMr Neill Menzies
[PERS ID:1]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:478]Patient's Relative / Spouse / FriendLady Anne Ruthven

Places linked to this document

Role in document Specific Place Settlements / Areas Region Country Global Region Confidence
Place of Writing Perth Mid Scotland Scotland Europe certain
Destination of Letter Edinburgh Edinburgh and East Scotland Europe certain
Mentioned / Other Moncrieff Mid Scotland Scotland Europe certain
Place of Handstamp Perth Mid Scotland Scotland Europe certain

Normalized Text

[Page 1]
Dear Sir


your favour I received Thursday Last
and as I was oblidged to go to the West
hand 1 I sent your Letters and some Leeches
out to Lady Ruthven; her Daughter was
then in great agony with pain upon which
two Leeches were aplyed to her Knee and
two to her Ankle. They Bled plentifully
and was easier after for some time. She
tryed the Bathing once - and while in the
Bath was quite easie - but turning very
Sick was oblidged to be put to Bed and
all her bad ailments returned so she
has never tryed ↑it↑ since; in my last I wrote
you (I believe) that she expected her Menses or had
them, when they came they only continued
a short time not the 4th part of her (↑the↑) time
common to her, As she has no ease for 2 or
three days I sent out your Laxative Electuary
but she would not take of it but choose
two of Anderson's Pills those had no Effect
for 2 days upon which my Lady gave her some
Salts as she ↑had↑ not ease that way for 4 or 5 days
The Salts did very well but ever since she has



[Page 2]

had a small degree of a looseness She was
prevailed upon to take a Spoonfull of the
Diaphoretick Julep, it immediately made her
very Sick and Vomit excessively {illeg} a very
severe press and rent her to pieces for several
hours and then Sleept a little Since that time
(I wrote you before there was some little streiks
of Blood in her Spittle
) She has spit allmost
clear Blood she tells she is Sensible when{illeg}
kind comes upon her that she feels it coming
up as she describes it from the pit of her
Stomach. I find it quite needless to prescribe
any Medecines to her except made into Pills
as she cannot or will not take them.
Upon my coming home yesterday I went
out to see her and found her wrapped in a
Big chair She had got a little More spirits
her pains fixed in her extremities her
Knees and ancles swelled as also her very
fingers but her Mother told that about 6
or seven her spirits would languish and also
her other complaints return. Palpitation
pains &c her Pulse was about 90 when
I was there. I did not leave ↑her↑ till after seven but the {illeg} theose Paroxisms did not appear.


[Page 3]

As you wrote me you intend to be soon
here if you'll be so good to acquaint me
by the Post the night before you set out I'll
meet you at any hours you apoint att
Moncrieff I am most respectfully
Sir,


Your most Obedient
Servant
Neill Menzies

Perth June the 1st
1766



[Page 4]


To
Doctor Cullen
Phisician in
Edinburgh


1766

Notes:

1: This would appear to be the correct reading; in this context 'West hand' presumably means "in a westerly direction".

Diplomatic Text

[Page 1]
D: Sir


your favour I received Thursday Last
and as I was oblidged to go to the West
hand 1 I sent your Letters and some Leeches
out to Lady Ruthven; her Daughter was
then in great agony wt pain upon wc
two Leeches were aplyed to her Knee and
two to her Ankle. They Bled plentifully
and was easier after for some time. She
tryed the Bathing once - and while in the
Bath was quite easie - but turning very
Sick was oblidged to be put to Bed and
all her bad ailments returned so she
has never tryed ↑it↑ since; in my last I wrote
you (I believe) that she expected her M or had
them, when they came they only continued
a short time not the 4th part of her (↑the↑) time
common to her, As she has no ease for 2 or
three days I sent out your Laxat: Elect:
but she would not take of it but choose
two of Anderson's Pills those had no Effect
for 2 days upon which my Lady gave her some
Salts as she ↑had↑ not ease that way for 4 or 5 days
The Salts did very well but ever since she has



[Page 2]

had a small degree of a looseness She was
prevailed upon to take a Spoonfull of the
Diaphoretick Julep, it immediately made her
very Sick and Vomit excessively {illeg} a very
severe press and rent her to pieces for several
hours and then Sleept a little Since that time
(I wrote you before there was some little streiks
of Blood in her Spittle
) She has spit allmost
clear Blood she tells she is Sensible when{illeg}
kind comes upon her that she feels it coming
up as she describes it from the pit of her
Stomach. I find it quite needless to prescribe
any Medecines to her except made into Pills
as she cannot or will not take them.
Upon my coming home yesterday I went
out to see her and found her wrapped in a
Big chair She had got a little More spirits
her pains fixed in her extremities her
Knees and ancles swelled as also her very
fingers but her Mother told that about 6
or seven her spirits would languish and also
her other complaints return. Palpitation
pains &c her Pulse was about 90 when
I was there. I did not leave ↑her↑ till after seven but the {illeg} theose Paroxisms did not appear.


[Page 3]

As you wrote me you intend to be soon
here if you'll be so good to acquaint me
by the Post the night before you set out I'll
meet you at any hours you apoint att
Moncrieff I am most respectfully
Sir,


Your most Obedt
Servt
Neill Menzies

Perth June ye 1st
1766



[Page 4]


To
Doctor Cullen
Phisician in
Edinburgh


1766

Notes:

1: This would appear to be the correct reading; in this context 'West hand' presumably means "in a westerly direction".

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