The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:805] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Anonymous / Regarding: Mr Campbell (of Sherwin) (Patient) / 30 December 1767 / (Outgoing)
Reply from Cullen, in the form of a loose, retained autograph draft. concerning the case of Mr Campbell of Sherwin who is diagnosed with gout. Includes two substantial recipes.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 4 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
[Page 3]
[Page 4]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 805 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/74 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 30 December 1767 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Authorial original |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | Yes |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply from Cullen, in the form of a loose, retained autograph draft. concerning the case of Mr Campbell of Sherwin who is diagnosed with gout. Includes two substantial recipes. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:108] |
Case of Mr Campbell of Sherwin whose paralytic condition is attributed to gout. |
1 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:1421] | Addressee | |
| [PERS ID:1420] | Patient | Mr Campbell (of Sherwin) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
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 |
Normalized Text
I was favoured with yours concerning
Mr Campbell of Sherwin, last week but being out of
town and some other accidents have delayed my answer too long.
The symptoms are paralytic but the cause
is a gout not properly thrown out upon the extremities.
I think there is no' immediate danger to be appre¬
hended & even a recovery is to be expected but it may
be slow & at the present Season little can be
done & little expected. Tho he could be transported
hither I think it would be attended with some
danger at present & the attempt must be avoided till
the Season is somewhat advanced. -- In the
meantime great care must be taken to keep the lower
extremities warm by keeping them constantly in
woolen Stockings & flannels & let them be gently
rubbed with fleshbrush or piece of dry warm flannel
every night & morning.- At same time let the
haunches, the knees & the ankles be anointed with
the Oil prescribed below.- Inwardly let him
take the Infusion also ordered below. He may
begin with a table spoonfull two or three times
a day but the but the dose may be gradually encreas
increased to two or three spoonfulls. This is all I
[Page 2]
think adviseable or safe during the cold season,
but as the Spring advances & fresh weather previals
I hope that more effectual measures may be taken.
Particularly I think a Vapour Bath 1 applied to the
lower extremities may prove very effectual &
then too I think Electricity may be of service & I
think it is possible to execute both in the highlands,
but as I must suppose you to have a little experience
of these measures your execution must be difficult
& precarious. So if at any time [your?] after Canddlemass
Mr Campbell is capable of being brought hither I
would think it the Surest Course but if that cannot
be done I shall then give you the best directions I can.
With my best wishes to Mr Campbell, I am
Dear Sir
your most obedient Servant
As Gentlemen from the Country sometimes
inclose notes without taking notice of it in their
letter. I think it right to tell you that I found none
in yours.
[Page 3]
For Mr Campbell of Sherwin
Take three ounces of the best Olive Oil, two drachms each of Turpentine oil and oil of Amber, and a drachm-and-a-half of Lavender oil. Macerate throughly. Mix. Label: Strengthening Oil, a little to be anointed on the haunches knees & ankles every night & morning.
Take three drachms each of Peruvian Bark and wild Valerian Root; one drachm each of Orange Peel and white Cinnamon Bark, a small amount of Cornflower Tops, and one-and-a-half drachms of Rosemary. Crush and chop-up, then pour over one pint of Portuguese or Spanish white wine and three ounces of French Brandy. Leave for three days, then strain without pressing. Label: The Strengthening Infusion, a tablespoonfull or two to be taken two or three times a day.
I forgot to say above
that this Case requires no particular diet & the more
nourishing the better providing it is easily digested. In [drink?]
a glass of wine or a little spirits & water are either of them
very allowable but every excess of the bounds of temparance or
even an approach to it be extremely hurtfull.
[Page 4]
✍
1769
Notes:
1: Some form of steam (sauna) bath possibly employing a canvas enclosure around the lower part of the body.
Diplomatic Text
I was favoured with yours concerning
Mr Campbell of Sherwin, last week but being out of
town and some other accidents have delayed my answer too long.
The symptoms are paralytic but the cause
is a gout not properly thrown out upon the extremities.
I think there is no' immediate danger to be appre¬
hended & even a recovery is to be expected but it may
be slow & at the present Season little can be
done & little expected. Tho he could be transported
hither I think it would be attended with some
danger at present & the attempt must be avoided till
the Season is somewhat advanced. -- In the
meantime great care must be taken to keep the lower
extremities warm by keeping them constantly in
woolen Stockings & flannels & let them be gently
rubbed with fleshbrush or piece of dry warm flannel
every night & morning.- At same time let the
haunches, the knees & the ankles be anointed with
the Oil prescribed below.- Inwardly let him
take the Infusion also ordered below. He may
begin with a table spoonfull two or three times
a day but the but the dose may be gradually encreas
increased to two or three spoonfulls. This is all I
[Page 2]
think adviseable or safe during the cold season,
but as the Spring advances & fresh weather previals
I hope that more effectual measures may be taken.
Particularly I think a Vapour Bath 1 applied to the
lower extremities may prove very effectual &
then too I think Electricity may be of service & I
think it is possible to execute both in the highlands,
but as I must suppose you to have a little experience
of these measures your execution must be difficult
& precarious. So if at any time [your?] after Canddlemass
Mr Campbell is capable of being brought hither I
would think it the Surest Course but if that cannot
be done I shall then give you the best directions I can.
With my best wishes to Mr Campbell, I am
Dear Sir
your most obedient Servant
As Gentlemen from the Country sometimes
inclose notes without taking notice of it in their
letter. I think it right to tell you that I found none
in yours.
[Page 3]
For Mr Campbell of Sherwin
℞ Ol. Olivar opt. ℥iii
- Terebinth
- Succin @ ʒii
- Lavend.
- [Mac. per. expr. ?] @ ʒiſs
ℳ Signa Strengthening Oil, a little to be
anointed on the haunches knees & ankles every
night & morning.
℞ Cort. Peruvian
Rad Valerian. Sylv. @ ʒiii
Cort. Aurantior
- Cannell. alb. @ ʒi
Summ. Centaur. min
Rosis marin @ ʒiſs
Contusis & incisis affunde
Vin. alb. Hispan. vel Lusitan lbj
Spir. Vin. Gall. ℥iii
Macera per. triduum & cola sine expressione
Signa The Strengthening Infusion a table¬
spoonfull or two to be taken two or three times
a day. ---
I forgot to say above
that this Case requires no particular diet & the more
nourishing the better providing it is easily digested. In [drink?]
a glass of wine or a little spirits & water are either of them
very allowable but every excess of the bounds of temparance or
even an approach to it be extremely hurtfull.
[Page 4]
✍
1769
Notes:
1: Some form of steam (sauna) bath possibly employing a canvas enclosure around the lower part of the body.
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