The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[Case ID:788]: Case of Mrs [Jane] Fraser of Relict [Relig/Reelig], who suffers from breathlessness and pain in her side; she subsequently falls down stairs, becomes pregnant and is then dissuaded from suckling her child for fear of her catching milk fever and a cold.
Documents in this case
21 document(s) found in this case.
| DOC ID | Summary | Date | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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[DOC ID:2366] |
Letter from James Grant, concerning the case of Mrs Fraser who recently gave birth and whose tumours are in abeyance. Consists of a cover letter and a detailed case note, with a copy of Cullen's previous advice on the reverse. The copy of the case note is dated March 1782 and the copy of Cullen's previous advice is dated March 1783. | 13 November 1783 | |||
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[DOC ID:4748] |
Reply, for 'Mrs Fraser'. Cullen had formerly postponed prescribing medicines to treat Mrs Fraser's tumour of the neck due to her pregnancy. As Mrs Fraser is not nursing and her symptoms have not improved, Cullen prescribes an aperient powder, an aperient solution and a lotion for the neck. | 21 November 1783 | |||
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[DOC ID:2428] |
A letter addressed to Dr Alves by an unknown author, concerning the case of Mrs Jane Fraser of Reelig. Her symptoms include pain in her sides, cough, spitting blood and breathlessness. | 1784? | |||
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[DOC ID:4830] |
Reply, for 'Mrs Fraser'. Addressed to Dr John Alves concerning the case of Mrs Fraser, whose symptoms include hardness and pain in the breast. Cullen diagnoses her symptoms as a milk obstruction and recommends the application of camphorated oil over the present application of sugar of lead. | 12 May 1784 | |||
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[DOC ID:2459] |
Letter from John Alves, concerning the case of Mrs Fraser. Her symptoms include a pain in her left side, a cough, spitting blood and a hardness in her breast. | 20 May 1784 | |||
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[DOC ID:4837] |
Reply, for 'Mrs. Fraser'. Addressed to an unknown male physician (likely John Alves). Cullen advises on bloodletting, on blistering the side should the pain there increase, on pectoral medicines and exercise. | 24 May 1784 | |||
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[DOC ID:2479] |
Letter from John Alves, concerning the case of Mrs Fraser. Alves reports Mrs Fraser has suffered intermittent returns of all her complaints (side pain, breathlessness, cough and spitting of blood). On Sunday 13th June, Mrs Fraser fell down eight steps, without suffering any material injury. | 1 July 1784 | |||
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[DOC ID:4866] |
Reply, for 'Mrs Fraser'. Cullen advises on monitoring the quantity of nitre taken by Mrs Fraser and would prefer she take vitriolic acid. He does not think her breathlessness and pain of her side denotes 'any fixed affection'. | 8 July 1784 | |||
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[DOC ID:4872] |
Reply, for 'Mrs Fraser'. Cullen received Alves' letter from Gutuley[?], having answered it by the very first post after. He mentions having in hand a letter from Alves of the 6th, which seems to be missing. Mrs Fraser's symptoms include a spasmodic fit, which appears to Cullen to be 'external and in some measure Rheumatic'. To treat the spasmodic fits, Cullen recommends warm plaisters and a blister, drinking plentifully of arabic emulsion to stave off strangury or irritation of the uterus. If the blood-spitting continues, Mrs Fraser is to be bled. | 12 July 1784 | |||
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[DOC ID:2510] |
Letter from John Alves, concerning the case of Mrs Fraser. On 6th September 1784, Mrs Fraser was delivered of a son. Alves reports 'She had come to a Resolution, from which she could not be diverted, of nursing the Child'. Mrs Frasers symptoms include: 'a short, trifling Cough', breathlessness and pain in her side. Alves believes she is in danger of catching cold while sitting up at night to nurse her child and would rather dissuade her from nursing. He requests Cullen's advice on the subject. | 11 September 1784 | |||
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[DOC ID:4916] |
Reply, for 'Mrs Fraser Relig'. For the sake of her breast, Mrs Fraser is advised to give up nursing (i.e. suckling) her baby at night by finding a suitable wet-nurse. | 15 September 1784 | |||
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[DOC ID:2554] |
Letter from John Alves, concerning the case of Mrs Fraser. Upon being exposed to cold, Mrs Fraser's former complaints return. These include shortness of breath, spitting blood, cough, and a persistent pain in her side. | 8 January 1785 | |||
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[DOC ID:4969] |
Reply, for 'Mrs Fraser'. Cullen is disposed to consider Mrs Fraser's breathlessness as part of a 'Spasmodic Asthma' and the pain of her side to 'an external Rheumatic affection'. He advises Mrs Fraser guard against cold and recommends the use of opiates to palliate the fits of asthma. | 15 January 1785 | |||
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[DOC ID:2892] |
Reply, 'For Mrs. Fraser of Relic'. Cullen recommends Mr and Mrs Fraser to spend the Winter in Madiera. He advises on Mrs Fraser's conduct during her stay at Madiera and details strategies on coping with sea-sickness, on diet, and exercise. | September 1786 | |||
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[DOC ID:2919] |
Letter from an unidentified correspondant, concerning the case of Mrs Fraser. The author details the dismal conditions of the ship in which Mrs Fraser travelled. The signature has been partially removed, making the author difficult to identify. The author seems to be an acquaintance of both Cullen and 'Hunter': 'Our fellow Voyager Hunter is much better in all respects - Stronger - & his Pulse reduced from 112 - to 80.' The 'Hunter' referred to could be John Hunter, a young student of Glasgow College and the son of Robert Hunter, who travelled to Madeira in attempt to combat a chest infection. (See Case ID:1940). The author also expresses affectionate compliments to all at Mint and Ormiston. | 31 October 1786 | |||
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[DOC ID:3259] |
Letter from John Alves, concerning the case of Mrs Fraser of Relick. After a journey north and subject to 'very cold bad Weather', she has suffered a return of the pain in her side and breast. | 8 November 1787 | |||
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[DOC ID:5560] |
Reply, for 'Mrs Fraser'. Cullen advises the application of a blister, keeping a part open as a perpetual issue for two or three weeks, to treat the pain of Mrs Fraser's side. Includes a recipe for an anodyne embrocation. | 13 November 1787 | |||
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[DOC ID:3571] |
Letter from James Robertson, relating the case of Mrs Fraser, at the request of Mr Fraser of Relick. Mrs Fraser symptoms include pain in the lower abdomen, accompanied by nausea, vomiting and a frequent desire to pass water. Robertson also enclosed a sample of a substance Mrs Fraser passed by urine. | 9 August 1789 | |||
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[DOC ID:5872] |
Reply, for 'Mrs Fraser of Relic'. Cullen believes Mrs Fraser's illness to be based upon 'the supposition of a small concretion', a sample of which Roberston enclosed in his last letter. | 17 August 1789 | |||
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[DOC ID:3611] |
Letter from James Robertson, concerning the case of Mrs Fraser of Relick. Mrs Fraser's symptoms include a feeling of tightness in the breast, breathlessness and spitting blood which recedes upon guarding against cold. Mrs Fraser has also developed sponginess and bleeding in her gums. Robertson recommended an extraction of a decaying tooth, but Mrs Fraser is afraid of losing too many teeth. | 19 December 1789 | |||
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[DOC ID:5924] |
Reply, for 'Dr. Robertson C(oncerning) Mrs Fraser'. Henry Cullen writes in his father's place and apologises for the lateness of the reply as 'he has been so much indisposed and being now confined to bed... is unable to do any business'. He supplies a recipe for an astringent lotion and advises the extraction of Mrs Fraser's carious tooth. | 9 January 1790 | |||
People involved in this case
10 found.
| PERS ID | Full Name |
|---|---|
| [PERS ID: 4503] | (Gutuley. Going south from Inverness and delivered John Alves' letter concerning Mrs Jane Fraser to Cullen. LMcC (Cannot find record of place or specif) |
| [PERS ID: 148] | Dr John Alves |
| [PERS ID: 1] | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID: 544] | Dr Henry Cullen (Harry, Dr Henry, "the young doctor"
) |
| [PERS ID: 857] | Mrs Jane Fraser (of Relick) |
| [PERS ID: 858] | Mr Fraser (of Relick) |
| [PERS ID: 3219] | Mrs Fraser |
| [PERS ID: 4571] | Mr Fraser |
| [PERS ID: 4461] | James Grant |
| [PERS ID: 4776] | Dr James Robertson |
Unique Places linked to this Case
10 found.
| Type | Specific Place | Village/Town/City (aka) | Region | Country | Continent | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place | Perth | Mid Scotland | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Place | Urquhart | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Specific | Cullen's House / Mint Close | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain |
| Place | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Region | Madeira | Spain | Europe | certain | ||
| Specific | Aldourie Castle | Reelig (Relig / Relict / Relick) | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | certain |
| Place | Reelig (Relig / Relict / Relick) | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Place | Inverness | North Highlands | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Specific | Ormiston Hill | Kirknewton | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | certain |
| Specific | Moniack Castle | Inverness | North Highlands | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Places and role of place
17 found.
| Type | Role | Specific Place | Village/Town/City (aka) | Region | Country | Continent | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specific | Place of Writing | Cullen's House / Mint Close | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain |
| Place | Place of Writing | Inverness | North Highlands | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Place | Place of Writing | Perth | Mid Scotland | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Place | Place of Writing | Urquhart | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Specific | Place of Writing | Aldourie Castle | Reelig (Relig / Relict / Relick) | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | inferred |
| Specific | Destination of Letter | Cullen's House / Mint Close | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain |
| Place | Destination of Letter | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Place | Destination of Letter | Inverness | North Highlands | Scotland | Europe | inferred | |
| Place | Destination of Letter | Urquhart | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | inferred | |
| Region | Therapeutic Recommendation | Madeira | Spain | Europe | certain | ||
| Specific | Mentioned / Other | Cullen's House / Mint Close | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain |
| Place | Mentioned / Other | Inverness | North Highlands | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Specific | Mentioned / Other | Ormiston Hill | Kirknewton | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | certain |
| Specific | Mentioned / Other | Aldourie Castle | Reelig (Relig / Relict / Relick) | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | certain |
| Place | Mentioned / Other | Reelig (Relig / Relict / Relick) | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Specific | Mentioned / Other | Moniack Castle | Inverness | North Highlands | Scotland | Europe | certain |
| Place | Place of Handstamp | Inverness | North Highlands | Scotland | Europe | inferred |
