The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:84] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: [ADDRESSEE UNKNOWN] / Regarding: Captain Law (Patient) / 31 December 1769 / (Outgoing)
Reply 'For Captain Law'
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
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- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
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Metadata
Field | Data |
---|---|
DOC ID | 84 |
RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/1/79 |
Main Language | English |
Document Direction | Outgoing |
Date | 31 December 1769 |
Annotation | None |
Type | Scribal copy ( includes Casebook Entry) |
Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
Autopsy | No |
Recipe | Yes |
Regimen | No |
Letter of Introduction | No |
Case Note | No |
Summary | Reply 'For Captain Law' |
Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
---|---|---|
[Case ID:220] |
Case of Captain Law who is given a regimen for managing the gout. |
1 |
People linked to this document
Person ID | Role in document | Person |
---|---|---|
[PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
[PERS ID:37] | Patient | Captain Law |
[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
For Captain Law
Captain Laws complaints in we a woman would be
called a Nervous & Hysteric & they are in a great measure
of that nature but I think it is to be suspected that they
depend very much on a disposition to the Gout, tho after
appearing in this shape it is very doubtfull if the dis¬
ease will ever take on its proper form --. However it may
be, the Complaints are very much in the habit & constitu¬
tion & are to be prevented ay a proper regimen rather
than cured by Medicines. I begin therefore by advising
that Regimen --- His Diet must be of a middle
kind neither low nor full but inclining rather to a spare
one. Every day at dinner he should take meat but should
choose the lighter kinds. Beef, Mutton & White fowl
I think the best & lighter than Veal or Lamb tho he may
sometimes take also of those. He must be more sparing
of water fowl & Wildfowl of all kinds. I would have avoid
all very fat meat & therefore Pork & more especially
Bacon. Much Salted meat, would be very bad for him but
little of it he may take & a little corned Beef is as light
as in any either shape. Fish he must hardly taste & at
least only seldom a little of the lighter kinds avoiding
all the heavier kinds as Salmon, Herring & [drest?] shell¬
fish of all kinds. His Cookery should be always plain
avoiding Sauces & all baking frying & Stewing ---
That he may not take too much of any thing kind
of meat it will be right always to begin his dinner with
Soop or broth without greens & to fill up his meal
with some kinds of pudding. --- Roots Green & other
& other garden things are to be taken with great
Caution he may take a little of along with his meat
& potatoes are one of the safest but he must not take
freely of any kind & avoid the more windyy as Cabbage,
[Page 2]
For drink at dinner he should take plain water but
if he finds it cold in his stomach he may put a little
Wine or Spirits to it but the first is to be preferred ---
He should take two or three glasses of strong drink
every day after dinner & it may be either Wine or Punch
without sowring. His wine may be Madeira Sherry
or Port but Claret & all other french & Rhemish Wines
I think bad for him. Whatever he takes it should be
moderately & the least excess in strong drink will
always do much harm. -- At Supper Capt. Law
should take no meat of any kind but it is better for him
to take a little Supper than none at all & it may
be of any kind of Grain as [Rine?], Barley, Sago, Bread
with milk or prepared in any other manner He likes
best --- For breakfast he may take any thingy thing
he pleases except Green or Bohea tea. Cocoa Tea will
make a very proper one. --- Along with this
diet Capt. L. must take care to keep his belly open very
regular as any degree of Costiveness will always do harm
If any management of his diet will obviate costiveness
it is the best way but if that does not answer he must employ
a medicine. What I would prefer is flower of Sulphur
of which he may take a tea spoonfull in the morning in a
little gruel or Cocoa tea before his breakfast. The Dose
may be repeated increased or diminished as it is found
to answer that is to keep the belly regular without purging
If the Sulphur shall not answer Polychrest or
Glaubers Salts may be tryed & may be very proper if
the dose can be found that will keep the belly regular
without purging for this operation frequently repeated
might do harm - ---- The part [of?] Regimen of
most consequence to Capt. Law is Exercise. In this
he should be employed as much as he conveniently
[Page 3]
can both on horseback & on foot but the last should
be without fatigue --- In taking Exercise & on all
other occasions he should take special Care to avoid
Cold & particularly of his feet & legs.. He should always
wear [worstes?] under Stockings & keep his feast feet free from
of all damp & moisture. --- Another particular
of some consequence to him is regular hours. Either sitting
late at night or lying long abed in the morning are bad
for him esp & especially the first --- In concluding
this Regimen I find I have forgot Malt Li to say above
that Malt Liqueurs of any kind are not proper for him
But if he finds that he can digest them well & that
they contribute to keep his belly regular he may
take a little good Porter every day at dinner but
in proportion as he takes that he should take less of
other strong drink. ---- I have now only to add
that some business and employment of the mind if it
leads to no anxiety is very proper & even necessary to C.L.
These are the Particulars of Regimen I would recom¬
mend, & upon which I would chiefly depend for preserving
Capt. Law's Health but I shall now add what management
I think necessary when he is [attended?] (↑attacked↑) with his disorder
In case of feverishness with eruptions he must ly
abed {illeg} moderately covered & take plentifully of
gruel or other such watery liquor but not very warm
In these liquors he may dissolve a little nitre or he
may take separately ten grains of this several times
a day. In this way he is to favour a Sweat but by no
means to force it either by bedcloaths or warm drinks
[Page 4]
& particularly after a moisture is come on he should
not be anxious about urging it or continuing it long. When
the moisture that proves the relief does not come on soon
I would recommend the Diapheretic Mixture ordered
below which will favour but not free a Sweat. --
In case he of his being attacked with with suffocating
fits he must try to dispell them by a tea spoonfull
or two of good Spirit of Hartshorn or Eaeu de Luce
in a little water but if these do not answer he must
have a vein opened. Bleeding frequently as it breeds
blood is by no means a desireable Remedy for Capt L.
but in the case of those suffocating fits it may be abso¬
lutely necessary & I have only to say that it should be
employed only when necessary & to the quantity only that
will answer. I have frequently found that opening a
Vein & taking two or three ounces only would take of
very bad fits but with these hints the matter must
be left to the Captains feelings & the discretion of the
persons about him & who have seen in these fits
To prevent these fits & the whole of the disorder
I shall advise two Remedies. The one is a decoction
to be prepared & used in the manner ordered below
but it is to be continued only for a fourthnight
at one time & then after a weeks intermission it
may be used as long again & thus alternately
intermitting for several times. --
The other remedy I have to advise is a pea
Issue put into a Convenient place. If it does not incom¬
mode him in riding I would have it put into the thigh
a little above the knee but if it will not be an easy
there it may be put below the knee & if even there
[Page 5]
it disturbs him either in walking or riding it must be
put in the Arm. ------ For. Captain Law.
Take an ounce of hartshorn salt, half an ounce or a sufficient quantity of lime [tincture?], three ounces of rose water, [s.v.?] an ounce of, or as needed, of cinnamon, six drachms of pyrethrum balsam. Mix and label it Diaphoretic Mixture
two table spoon
fulls for a dose to be taken every two or three hours in
case of feverish fits
Take two ounces of powdered Peruvian bark and one and a half pints of spring water, boil slowly on a flame and add another pint and strain through a sheet of paper; Label it Strengthening Decoction
two table spoonfulls
to take be taken three or times a day.
Diplomatic Text
For Captain Law
Captain Laws complaints in we a woman would be
called a Nervous & Hysteric & they are in a great measure
of that nature but I think it is to be suspected that they
depend very much on a disposition to ye Gout, tho after
appearing in this shape it is very doubtfull if ye dis¬
ease will ever take on its proper form --. However it may
be, ye Complaints are very much in ye habit & constitu¬
tion & are to be prevented ay a proper regimen rather
than cured by Medicines. I begin therefore by advising
that Regimen --- His Diet must be of a middle
kind neither low nor full but inclining rather to a spare
one. Every day at dinner he should take meat but should
choose the lighter kinds. Beef, Mutton & White fowl
I think the best & lighter than Veal or Lamb tho he may
sometimes take also of those. He must be more sparing
of water fowl & Wildfowl of all kinds. I would have avoid
all very fat meat & therefore Pork & more especially
Bacon. Much Salted meat, would be very bad for him but
little of it he may take & a little corned Beef is as light
as in any either shape. Fish he must hardly taste & at
least only seldom a little of ye lighter kinds avoiding
all ye heavier kinds as Salmon, Herring & [drest?] shell¬
fish of all kinds. His Cookery should be always plain
avoiding Sauces & all baking frying & Stewing ---
That he may not take too much of any thing kind
of meat it will be right always to begin his dinner with
Soop or broth without greens & to fill up his meal
with some kinds of pudding. --- Roots Green & other
& other garden things are to be taken with great
Caution he may take a little of along with his meat
& potatoes are one of the safest but he must not take
freely of any kind & avoid the more windyy as Cabbage,
[Page 2]
For drink at dinner he should take plain water but
if he finds it cold in his stomach he may put a little
Wine or Spirits to it but the first is to be preferred ---
He should take two or three glasses of strong drink
every day after dinner & it may be either Wine or Punch
without sowring. His wine may be Madeira Sherry
or Port but Claret & all other french & Rhemish Wines
I think bad for him. Whatever he takes it should be
moderately & the least excess in strong drink will
always do much harm. -- At Supper Capt. Law
should take no meat of any kind but it is better for him
to take a little Supper than none at all & it may
be of any kind of Grain as [Rine?], Barley, Sago, Bread
with milk or prepared in any other manner He likes
best --- For breakfast he may take any thingy thing
he pleases except Green or Bohea tea. Cocoa Tea will
make a very proper one. --- Along with this
diet Capt. L. must take care to keep his belly open very
regular as any degree of Costiveness will always do harm
If any management of his diet will obviate costiveness
it is ye best way but if that does not answer he must employ
a medicine. What I would prefer is flower of Sulphur
of wc he may take a tea spoonfull in the morning in a
little gruel or Cocoa tea before his breakfast. The Dose
may be repeated increased or diminished as it is found
to answer that is to keep the belly regular without purging
If the Sulphur shall not answer Polychrest or
Glaubers Salts may be tryed & may be very proper if
the dose can be found that will keep the belly regular
without purging for this operation frequently repeated
might do harm - ---- The part [of?] Regimen of
most consequence to Capt. Law is Exercise. In this
he should be employed as much as he conveniently
[Page 3]
can both on horseback & on foot but the last should
be without fatigue --- In taking Exercise & on all
other occasions he should take special Care to avoid
Cold & particularly of his feet & legs.. He should always
wear [worstes?] under Stockings & keep his feast feet free from
of all damp & moisture. --- Another particular
of some consequence to him is regular hours. Either sitting
late at night or lying long abed in the morning are bad
for him esp & especially the first --- In concluding
this Regimen I find I have forgot Malt Li to say above
that Malt Liqueurs of any kind are not proper for him
But if he finds that he can digest them well & that
they contribute to keep his belly regular he may
take a little good Porter every day at dinner but
in proportion as he takes that he should take less of
other strong drink. ---- I have now only to add
that some business and employment of ye mind if it
leads to no anxiety is very proper & even necessary to C.L.
These are ye Particulars of Regimen I would recom¬
mend, & upon wc I would chiefly depend for preserving
Capt. Law's Health but I shall now add what management
I think necessary when he is [attended?] (↑attacked↑) with his disorder
In case of feverishness with eruptions he must ly
abed {illeg} moderately covered & take plentifully of
gruel or other such watery liquor but not very warm
In these liquors he may dissolve a little nitre or he
may take separately ten grains of this several times
a day. In this way he is to favour a Sweat but by no
means to force it either by bedcloaths or warm drinks
[Page 4]
& particularly after a moisture is come on he should
not be anxious about urging it or continuing it long. When
the moisture that proves the relief does not come on soon
I would recommend the Diapheretic Mixture ordered
below wc will favour but not free a Sweat. --
In case he of his being attacked with with suffocating
fits he must try to dispell them by a tea spoonfull
or two of good Spirit of Hartshorn or Eaeu de Luce
in a little water but if these do not answer he must
have a vein opened. Bleeding frequently as it breeds
blood is by no means a desireable Remedy for Capt L.
but in ye case of those suffocating fits it may be abso¬
lutely necessary & I have only to say that it should be
employed only when necessary & to the quantity only that
will answer. I have frequently found that opening a
Vein & taking two or three ounces only would take of
very bad fits but with these hints the matter must
be left to the Captains feelings & the discretion of the
persons about him & who have seen in these fits
To prevent these fits & the whole of ye disorder
I shall advise two Remedies. The one is a decoction
to be prepared & used in the manner ordered below
but it is to be continued only for a fourthnight
at one time & then after a weeks intermission it
may be used as long again & thus alternately
intermitting for several times. --
The other remedy I have to advise is a pea
Issue put into a Convenient place. If it does not incom¬
mode him in riding I would have it put into the thigh
a little above the knee but if it will not be an easy
there it may be put below the knee & if even there
[Page 5]
it disturbs him either in walking or riding it must be
put in the Arm. ------ For. Captain Law.
℞ Sal. Corn. Cerv. ℥j
[Tinc.?] Limon. ℥ſs vel q.s.
Aq. Rosar. ℥iij
Cinnamon. s.v. ℥j
Pyr Balsam. ℥fvj ℥vj
ℳ Signa Diaphoretic Mixture
two table spoon
fulls for a dose to be taken every two or three hours in
case of feverish fits
℞. pulv. Cort. Peruvian ℥ij
Aq. Rosar Font. lib iſs
Coque lento igno ad lib i & cola per chart am
Signa Strengthening Decoction
two table spoonfulls
to take be taken three or times a day.
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