The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:925] From: Dr John Alves / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Mr Hugh Fraser (Patient) / 26 October 1774 / (Incoming)
Letter from John Alves concerning an unnamed male patient (Hugh Fraser, an Inverness merchant), who has a very serious abdominal condition. A postscript by the patient's brother, John Fraser WS, adds that 'if he dies will Leave a widow & ten Children', and mentions his own acquaintance with Cullen.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 4 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
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Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 925 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/188 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Incoming |
| Date | 26 October 1774 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Authorial original |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Letter from John Alves concerning an unnamed male patient (Hugh Fraser, an Inverness merchant), who has a very serious abdominal condition. A postscript by the patient's brother, John Fraser WS, adds that 'if he dies will Leave a widow & ten Children', and mentions his own acquaintance with Cullen. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:434] |
Case of Hugh Fraser who has a very serious abdominal condition. |
2 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:148] | Author | Dr John Alves |
| [PERS ID:1] | Addressee | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:581] | Patient | Mr Hugh Fraser |
| [PERS ID:148] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr John Alves |
| [PERS ID:582] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Mr John Fraser (John Fraser of Borlum) |
| [PERS ID:583] | Other | Mr Masterson |
| [PERS ID:582] | Supplemental Author | Mr John Fraser (John Fraser of Borlum) |
Places linked to this document
| Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Writing | Inverness | North Highlands | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Destination of Letter | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Mentioned / Other | The Guard House | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
✍Dr Alves about Mr Fraser
October 1774 V. III p. 73 ✍
The Patient for whom I consult you
at this time is in a Situation which I'm affraid admits
of little relief from Medicine. As it will be a Satisfaction
to his friends however to know that every thing has been
done for him that could be done, you will please Con¬
sider his case which is as follows.
He is a Gentleman about 47 years of age naturaly
of a good Constitution and enjoy'd pretty good health
till within these last two or three years that he sometimes
complain'd of a disorder at his Stomach, owing as I
imagin'd to much Application to Business and sitting
at a desk through the day, and hard drinking (especially–
of punch) very often at night. About the Middle of
July last he was seiz'd with a slight feverish complaint
attended with the Usual Disorder at his Stomach and
Costiveness. Tho' by proper care, he got so far the better
[Page 2]
of this disorder as to be able to go abroad & attend
his business, yet he did not recover his appetite or
usual health. At length August 4th. the Jaundice made
its appearance attended with the ordinary Symptoms
but without pain weight or hardness in the right
Hypochondrium, tho' he had for some time a slight pain
below towards the Loin which prevented his lying easily
on the right side and seem'd to be Rheumatick. --
Repeated vomits, aloetick pills with Rhubarb, a proper
Diet & regular Exercise on horseback produced no
amendment nor did he receive any benefit from
the continued use /successively, for five weeks/ of the
pills of Squills - Small doses of Calomel purg'd off
so as not to affect the mouth, & Regenerated Tartar.
The Disease continued & he lost his flesh & strength.
In this Situation he was perswaded to go to the Country
& he left off all medicines. After being a month in
the Country he return'd to town within these few days
in a much worse condition than when he left it.
His Appetite totally gone; ↑His colour worse;↑ exceedingly emaciated; and
[Page 3]
so weak as to need help to support him from the Chaise
into his house; His legs Oedematous; a fullness in the
Abdomen; hard tumours of the Viscera these, to be felt
in different parts of the Umbilical region, even on the
left side, as well as a tension & hardness in the right
Hypochondrium; ↑Scarcity of Urine;↑ thirst; want of rest, and an
inability to ly on the left side for any time. In
these deplorable Circumstances, what can be done?
As a diuretick & Deobstruent I have prefer'd the
Regenerated Tartar & it is the only Medicine
he takes, but that Pyrmont water has been
recommended to him & I believe he drinks some of i[t?]
daily. If you can suggest any thing that may alleviate
his distress, it will be still something. A cure I dare
say you will not expect.
This will be deliver'd by a friend of the Gentlemans
& your Answer in Course will be expected.
am with particular regard
Dear Sir
your most obedient Servant
[Page 4]
✍
The person in the low Condition as within mentioned Is a
Brother of mine, And if he dies will Leave a widow & ten Children
all under Age, I know by Experience Your humanity in particular
And tho my writing this will not Excite any uncommon Atten¬
tion to my Brothers Situation, As You Exercise that to all Your Patients
Yet my Connection encouraged to write this postscript And to Subserve
Relief --
Writer to the Signet Acquainted
withDoctor Cullen while he attended a Young man in one Mr Master¬
sons opposite the Guard in September Last 1 & for Some months before
I will have the pleasure to See you Soon -- I think Dr Alves has
rather Given Less Desperate an Account of his patient --
To
DrWilliam Cullen
Physician in
Edinburgh
Notes:
1: No evidence of this case traced.
Diplomatic Text
✍Dr Alves abt Mr Fraser
Octr 1774 V. III p. 73 ✍
The Patient for whom I consult you
at this time is in a Situation which I'm affraid admits
of little relief from Medicine. As it will be a Satisfaction
to his friends however to know that every thing has been
done for him that could be done, you will please Con¬
sider his case which is as follows.
He is a Gentleman about 47 years of age naturaly
of a good Constitution and enjoy'd pretty good health
till within these last two or three years that he sometimes
complain'd of a disorder at his Stomach, owing as I
imagin'd to much Application to Business and sitting
at a desk through the day, and hard drinking (especially–
of punch) very often at night. About the Middle of
July last he was seiz'd with a slight feverish complaint
attended with the Usual Disorder at his Stomach and
Costiveness. Tho' by proper care, he got so far the better
[Page 2]
of this disorder as to be able to go abroad & attend
his business, yet he did not recover his appetite or
usual health. At length Augt. 4th. the Jaundice made
its appearance attended with the ordinary Symptoms
but without pain weight or hardness in the right
Hypochondrium, tho' he had for some time a slight pain
below towards the Loin which prevented his lying easily
on the right side and seem'd to be Rheumatick. --
Repeated vomits, aloetick pills with Rhubarb, a proper
Diet & regular Exercise on horseback produced no
amendment nor did he receive any benefit from
the continued use /successively, for five weeks/ of the
Pil. Scillit. - Small doses of Calomel purg'd off
so as not to affect the mouth, & Tartar Regenerat.
The Disease continued & he lost his flesh & strength.
In this Situation he was perswaded to go to the Country
& he left off all medicines. After being a month in
the Country he return'd to town within these few days
in a much worse condition than when he left it.
His Appetite totally gone; ↑His colour worse;↑ exceedingly emaciated; and
[Page 3]
so weak as to need help to support him from the Chaise
into his house; His legs Oedematous; a fullness in the
Abdomen; hard tumours of the Viscera these, to be felt
in difft. parts of the Umbilical region, even on the
left side, as well as a tension & hardness in the right
Hypochondrium; ↑Scarcity of Urine;↑ thirst; want of rest, and an
inability to ly on the left side for any time. In
these deplorable Circumstances, what can be done?
As a diuretick & Deobstruent I have prefer'd the
Regenerated Tartar & it is the only Medicine
he takes, but that Pyrmont water has been
recommended to him & I believe he drinks some of i[t?]
daily. If you can suggest any thing that may alleviate
his distress, it will be still something. A cure I dare
say you will not expect.
This will be deliver'd by a friend of the Gentlemans
& your Answer in Course will be expected.
am with particular regard
Dear Sir
your most obt Servt
[Page 4]
✍
The person in the low Condition as within mentd Is a
Broyr of mine, And if he dies will Leave a widow & ten Children
all under Age, I know by Experience Your humanity in particular
And tho my writing this will not Excite any uncommon Atten¬
tion to my Broyrs Situation, As You Exercise that to all Your Patients
Yet my Connection encouraged to write this postscript And to Subserve
Relief --
Writer to the Signet Acquainted
wtDoctor Cullen while he attended a Young man in one Mr Master¬
sons opposite the Guard in Septemr Last 1 & for Some months before
I will have the pleasure to See you Soon -- I think Dr Alves has
rather Given Less Desperate an Accot of his patient --
To
DrWilliam Cullen
Physician in
Edinburgh
Notes:
1: No evidence of this case traced.
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