The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:825] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Countess Catharine Elizabeth Gordon (Hanson) (Katherine, of Aberdeen; Lady Aberdeen) / Regarding: Countess Catharine Elizabeth Gordon (Hanson) (Katherine, of Aberdeen; Lady Aberdeen) (Patient) / 26 June 1772 / (Outgoing)
Reply, in the form of a neat retained copy, giving directions 'for the Right Honourable Lady Katherine Gordon', signed by Cullen and John Rutherford. They prescribe different kinds of Spa water and a therapeutic retreat in North Berwick where she can bathe in the sea three times a week..
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- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
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Facsimile
There are 4 images for this document.
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Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 825 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/92 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 26 June 1772 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Authorial original |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply, in the form of a neat retained copy, giving directions 'for the Right Honourable Lady Katherine Gordon', signed by Cullen and John Rutherford. They prescribe different kinds of Spa water and a therapeutic retreat in North Berwick where she can bathe in the sea three times a week.. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:423] |
Case of the Right Honourable Lady Katherine Gordon whose complaints are attributed to her youth and who is recommended sea bathing. |
1 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:1769] | Addressee | Countess Catharine Elizabeth Gordon (Katherine, of Aberdeen; Lady Aberdeen) |
| [PERS ID:1769] | Patient | Countess Catharine Elizabeth Gordon (Katherine, of Aberdeen; Lady Aberdeen) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:518] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr John Rutherford |
| [PERS ID:518] | Supplemental Author | Dr John Rutherford |
Places linked to this document
| Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Writing | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Destination of Letter | Haddo House | Methlick | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | inferred |
| Mentioned / Other | North Berwick | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Mentioned / Other | Peterhead | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
Lady Katharine Gordon
After considering with great attention the
whole of her Ladyship's complaints we are of --
opinion that they depend entirely upon the time
of Life and some neglect which all young persons
are liable to; but that with some attention and
the use of a few remedies for some time, the whole
ailments may be entirely removed.
A principal remedy is Sea bathing with the
use of a chalybeate water but this we think can
be obtained better at Northberwick than at -
Peterhead.
We would have a bath in the Sea taken -
three times a week and if possible always in the
morning before breakfast dipping only once or twice
taking care to dip the head properly and for
this
[Page 2]
purpose the head Should be shaven.
Every morning Her Ladyship Should take an
ordinary wine glass full of Hartfell Spaw water
before breakfast, that this Should be repeated two
or three times in the forenoon and once or twice
in the evening. The Size and number of the glasses
may at first be ↑Smaller &↑ fewer but by degrees they Should
be increased till about a muchkin of the water is
taken every day.
Every night at bedtime let her Ladyship
take two or three of the aperient pills. It is ex¬
pected that these will keep the belly regular and
according to their effect this way, more or fewer
are to be taken.
With these remedies a great deal of exercise
is proper partly in walking and partly on horseback
or in a carriage. The walking Should be without
[Page 3]
fatigue or being heated by it and particularly without
hurrying her breathing either by walking fast or
walking up hill. We are glad to find that Lady
Katharine agrees with walking but we think it
is to be employed with caution and that besides
She Should frequently go on horseback or in a carriage.
In taking any exercise the heat of the day and the
damp of the evenings are equally to be avoided.
We think it proper to continue the Asses milk
but taken so early that it may not interfere ei¬
ther with the bathing or the Spaw water.
Some attention is due to My Ladys diet. She
must lay aside entirely the use of Indian Tea and
take in place of it either Cocoa or Ground Ivy.
At dinner A little of any kind of light meat
may be taken but it Should be moderately and the
meal filled up with broth, pudding and Such
[Page 4]
Vegetables as My Ladys Stomach easily digests.
At Supper no meat is to be taken but Some
kind of Grains as Rice Barley or Sago with or
without milk as Shall be found to agree. --
Both at going to bed and rising in the morn¬
ning it will be proper to rub the arms and legs
especially the joints with a piece of warm flannel.
William Cullen
1772
Diplomatic Text
Lady Katharine Gordon
After considering with great attention the
whole of her Ladyship's complaints we are of --
opinion that they depend entirely upon the time
of Life and some neglect which all young persons
are liable to; but that with some attention and
the use of a few remedies for some time, the whole
ailments may be entirely removed.
A principal remedy is Sea bathing with the
use of a chalybeate water but this we think can
be obtained better at Northberwick than at -
Peterhead.
We would have a bath in the Sea taken -
three times a week and if possible always in the
morning before breakfast dipping only once or twice
taking care to dip the head properly and for
this
[Page 2]
purpose the head Should be shaven.
Every morning Her Ladyship Should take an
ordinary wine glass full of Hartfell Spaw water
before breakfast, that this Should be repeated two
or three times in the forenoon and once or twice
in the evening. The Size and number of the glasses
may at first be ↑Smaller &↑ fewer but by degrees they Should
be increased till about a muchkin of the water is
taken every day.
Every night at bedtime let her Ladyship
take two or three of the aperient pills. It is ex¬
pected that these will keep the belly regular and
according to their effect this way, more or fewer
are to be taken.
With these remedies a great deal of exercise
is proper partly in walking and partly on horseback
or in a carriage. The walking Should be without
[Page 3]
fatigue or being heated by it and particularly without
hurrying her breathing either by walking fast or
walking up hill. We are glad to find that Lady
Katharine agrees with walking but we think it
is to be employed with caution and that besides
She Should frequently go on horseback or in a carriage.
In taking any exercise the heat of the day and the
damp of the evenings are equally to be avoided.
We think it proper to continue the Asses milk
but taken so early that it may not interfere ei¬
ther with the bathing or the Spaw water.
Some attention is due to My Ladys diet. She
must lay aside entirely the use of Indian Tea and
take in place of it either Cocoa or Ground Ivy.
At dinner A little of any kind of light meat
may be taken but it Should be moderately and the
meal filled up with broth, pudding and Such
[Page 4]
Vegetables as My Ladys Stomach easily digests.
At Supper no meat is to be taken but Some
kind of Grains as Rice Barley or Sago with or
without milk as Shall be found to agree. --
Both at going to bed and rising in the morn¬
ning it will be proper to rub the arms and legs
especially the joints with a piece of warm flannel.
William Cullen
1772
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