The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:991] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Dr John Gilchrist (of Speddoch) / Regarding: Mr George Mackenzie (McKenzie) (Patient) / 21 June 1780 / (Outgoing)
Reply 'Dr Gilchrist & the use of Cicuta for Mr Mackenzie'
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 2 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 991 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/13/46 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 21 June 1780 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Scribal copy ( includes Casebook Entry) |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply 'Dr Gilchrist & the use of Cicuta for Mr Mackenzie' |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1279] |
Case of Mr George Mackenzie staying near Dumfries, who has a cough and spits blood. He travels abroad where he dies. |
12 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:115] | Addressee | Dr John Gilchrist (of Speddoch) |
| [PERS ID:790] | Patient | Mr George Mackenzie (McKenzie) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:115] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr John Gilchrist (of Speddoch) |
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 |
| Destination of Letter | Dumfries | Borders | Scotland | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
Dr Gilchrist q the use of Cicuta for Mr Mackenzie
When I used the Extract some years ago I commonly found
it so ill prepared as not to be depended on; for this reason I
have for some years past employed the powder only. This also
is a little uncertain; the plant is not always chosen at the best
time & properly dried. At present the plant is not in
good ↑the best↑
condition.
As to its dose it has been common to begin with a very small
dose & to give it several times a day but this is wrong; for by
thus bringing it on by slow degrees habit counteracts its effects.
You have judged better in giving a larger dose and in
advancing faster but you cannot go any faster tho I
think there is less danger in the use of it than you apprehend.
Even when it had sensible effects I have known it used
very long without any consequence. As to the length
[Page 2]
I would go, I should be ruled by its effects.
Whenever it produces sickness, nausea
stricture across
the breast, tremor
or giddiness, I go no further then with the dose
till these effects wear off and then I increase the dose a little
again till the like effects are again produced.
Observe that when the dose is pretty quickly brought to
20 grains or half-a-drach
if such dose has no sensible effect I conclude
the medicine to be in bad condition & therefore try a
fresh parcel begining however again with a low dose
& increase it as before, but perhaps a little more quickly.
Diplomatic Text
Dr Gilchrist q the use of Cicuta for Mr Mackenzie
When I used the Extract some years ago I commonly found
it so ill prepared as not to be depended on; for this reason I
have for some years past employed the powder only. This also
is a little uncertain; the plant is not always chosen at the best
time & properly dried. At present the plant is not in
good ↑the best↑
condition.
As to its dose it has been common to begin with a very small
dose & to give it several times a day but this is wrong; for by
thus bringing it on by slow degrees habit counteracts its effects.
You have judged better in giving a larger dose and in
advancing faster but you cannot go any faster tho I
think there is less danger in the use of it than you apprehend.
Even when it had sensible effects I have known it used
very long without any consequence. As to the length
[Page 2]
I would go, I should be ruled by its effects.
Whenever it produces sickness, nausea
stricture across
the breast, tremor
or giddiness, I go no further then with the dose
till these effects wear off and then I increase the dose a little
again till the like effects are again produced.
Observe that when the dose is pretty quickly brought to
20 gr. or ʒfs
if such dose has no sensible effect I conclude
the medicine to be in bad condition & therefore try a
fresh parcel begining however again with a low dose
& increase it as before, but perhaps a little more quickly.
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