Cullen

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

 

[ID:824] From: Dr James Alexander / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Peggy Glasgow (Patient), John Galt (Patient) / 24 June 1772 / (Incoming)

Letter from Dr James Alexander about two patients: Peggy Glasgow who is 'Seized with Collick pains in her Bowels', paroxysms and jaundice; and John Galt 'affected w[ith] Epileptic or Convulsive Fits'.

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Metadata

FieldData
DOC ID 824
RCPE Catalogue Number CUL/1/2/91
Main Language English
Document Direction Incoming
Date24 June 1772
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 Dr James Alexander about two patients: Peggy Glasgow who is 'Seized with Collick pains in her Bowels', paroxysms and jaundice; and John Galt 'affected w[ith] Epileptic or Convulsive Fits'.
Manuscript Incomplete? No
Evidence of Commercial Posting Yes

Case

Cases that this document belongs to:

Case ID Description Num Docs
[Case ID:66]
Case of Peggy Glasgow who suffers from abdominal pain and swelling.
2
[Case ID:1899]
Case of John Galt who has been suffering from 'Convulsive or Epileptic fits' for the past two years.
1


People linked to this document

Person IDRole in documentPerson
[PERS ID:341]AuthorDr James Alexander
[PERS ID:1]AddresseeDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:342]Patient Peggy Glasgow
[PERS ID:347]Patient John Galt
[PERS ID:1]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:341]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr James Alexander

Places linked to this document

Role in document Specific Place Settlements / Areas Region Country Global Region Confidence
Place of Writing Irvine Glasgow and West Scotland Europe certain
Destination of Letter The University of Edinburgh Edinburgh Edinburgh and East Scotland Europe certain
Mentioned / Other Irvine Glasgow and West Scotland Europe certain

Normalized Text

[Page 1]


I take the liberty Dr. Proffessor to Sollicit
you for your advise how to proceed in the Treatment
of two poor Patients whose cases is as follows.


Inprimo Peggy Glasgow,
adg'd forty of pretty full habit of Body, was
Seized with Collick pains in her Bowels in the month
of October last, and which commonly lasted for five or
Six hours at a time. Again Returning regularly
Every third day for the Space of four months. After
which time they began to be more Irregular, Returning
Only once in two or three weeks keeping no Regular
or Stated period. But Soon after a few paroxysms
of this kind, Some few Symptoms began to make their
appearance. Viz. an appearance of Jaundice which
commonly disappear'd before the Return of the next
Paroxysm: but as Soon as ever She was Seized with
Fits of the Collick the Jaundice appeared next day
accompanied with a pretty Smart Fever. My oppinion
was that the whole proceeded from Spasm. however She
was treated by the Surgeon who attended her as a [one?]
please turn over



[Page 2]

Labouring under Calculi. And for that purpose Took
for a considerable time Lime water & Soap Pills without
any considerable Benefits. till the Collick pains intirely
Severed of their own accord. & Shortly after She got
Perfectly free off her Jaundice. She has been now
free from all her Complaints this long time. -
But of late She has complained of a pain in
her Reight Side about the Lower part of her
True Last or beginning of her false Ribs. The pain
extending Sometimes to her Shoulder. There is a consid¬
erable Swelling to outward appearance but no
Discolouration of the part. She is again put upon
the Lime water & Soap Pills. I was of oppinion
that Mercury meight be of Service, but from my Small
acquaintance with Practice I durst not venture without
your approbation. The other Patient Jn. Galt
adg'd Twenty four years of a middle Temperament
affected with Epileptic or Convulsive Fits. which
he has had for thsi two years past. Returning
commonly a Fit once a week. he can assign no
no particular cause for them. He is always attacked
Instantaniously, & in a few Seconds, again is perfectly
Recovered. Now whither this may not he owing to
too great a Stimulus applied to the Sensorium. from


[Page 3]

Blood propell'd to the head in a greater quantity than
usual. & Inducing a Collapse, or from the
Blood being heated & Rarified as when drinking
Freely I wou'd not say, but as he Complains much
of bad Degistion their is reason to believe that the
Disorder may be partly in that organ. He lives
very freely [therfore?] there is a Strong presumtion that
The Stomach is in an atonic State. & from [thence?]
The Syncopi propogated or may be produced is matters
Dr. Proffessor that I must leave to your determination


The Candid and Disinterested Expressions
yoused by you. together with the care & {illeg}
you had for every devidual Pupil an {illeg}
Care. Induced me to apply for your assistance
and I am fully convinced that the pleasure you
have in being of Service to Poor mortals is a sufficient
Recompence for the Trouble.

and I am
Dr. Proffessor with profound Respect your
Ever oblidgid Humblet Servant
Jas. Alexander
Irvine. 24. June 1772.


Please derict To - Student of Physic
Irvine ---




[Page 4]


Dr. Cullen Proffessor of
Medicine in the University
of Edinburgh

✍ 1772

Diplomatic Text

[Page 1]


I take the liberty Dr. Proffessor to Sollicit
you for your advise how to proceed in the Treatment
of two poor Patients whose cases is as follows.


Inprimo Peggy Glasgow,
adg'd forty of pretty full habit of Body, was
Seized with Collick pains in her Bowels in the month
of Octr. last, and which commonly lasted for five or
Six hours at a time. Again Returning regularly
Every third day for the Space of four months. After
which time they began to be more Irregular, Returning
Only once in two or three weeks keeping no Regular
or Stated period. But Soon after a few paroxysms
of this kind, Some few Symptoms began to make their
appearance. Viz. an appearance of Jaundice which
commonly disappear'd before the Return of the next
Paroxysm: but as Soon as ever She was Seized with
Fits of the Collick the Jaundice appeared next day
accompanied with a pretty Smart Fever. My oppinion
was that the whole proceeded from Spasm. however She
was treated by the Surgeon who attended her as a [one?]
please turn over



[Page 2]

Labouring under Calculi. And for that purpose Took
for a considerable time Lime water & Soap Pills wt.out
any considerable Benefits. till the Collick pains intirely
Severed of their own accord. & Shortly after She got
Perfectly free off her Jaundice. She has been now
free from all her Complaints this long time. -
But of late She has complained of a pain in
her Reight Side about the Lower part of her
True Last or beginning of her false Ribs. The pain
extending Sometimes to her Shoulder. There is a consid¬
erable Swelling to outward appearance but no
Discolouration of the part. She is again put upon
the Lime water & Soap Pills. I was of oppinion
that Mercury meight be of Service, but from my Small
acquaintance wt. Practice I durst not venture without
your approbation. The other Patient Jn. Galt
adg'd Twenty four years of a middle Temperament
affected wt. Epileptic or Convulsive Fits. which
he has had for thsi two years past. Returning
commonly a Fit once a week. he can assign no
no particular cause for them. He is always attacked
Instantaniously, & in a few Seconds, again is perfectly
Recovered. Now whither this may not he owing to
too great a Stimulus applied to the Sensorium. from


[Page 3]

Blood propell'd to the head in a greater quantity than
usual. & Inducing a Collapse, or from the
Blood being heated & Rarified as when drinking
Freely I wou'd not say, but as he Complains much
of bad Degistion their is reason to believe that the
Disorder may be partly in that organ. He lives
very freely [therfore?] there is a Strong presumtion that
The Stomach is in an atonic State. & from [thence?]
The Syncopi propogated or may be produced is matters
Dr. Proffessor that I must leave to your determination


The Candid and Disinterested Expressions
yoused by you. together with the care & {illeg}
you had for every devidual Pupil an {illeg}
Care. Induced me to apply for your assistance
and I am fully convinced that the pleasure you
have in being of Service to Poor mortals is a sufficient
Recompence for the Trouble.

and I am
Dr. Proffessor with profound Respect your
Ever oblidgid Humblet Servt.
Jas. Alexander
Irvine. 24. June 1772.


Please derict To - Studt of Physic
Irvine ---




[Page 4]


Dr. Cullen Proffessor of
Medicine in the University
of Edinburgh

✍ 1772

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