The Cullen Project | [Case ID:965]: Case of the Reverend Burnside who is left weak from a history of headaches and attacks of sweating.

[Case ID:965]: Case of the Reverend Burnside who is left weak from a history of headaches and attacks of sweating.

Documents in this case

6 document(s) found in this case.

DOC ID	Summary	Date
[DOC ID:2819]	Letter from John Gilchrist, concerning the case of Mr Burnside, now the main minister in Dumfries. He had applied to Cullen for a stomach ailment 8 or 9 years previously, and now suffers from headaches and excessive sweating of the head, apparently after exposure to cold, and a throat complaint. His spirits are badly affected, especially as he has career worries because of his health, and a wife and 6 children to support. Dr Gilchrist also notes that he has been prone to 'full living', and that 'he is now in a manner the only Minister of the town, your friend Dr Mutter being quite laid aside'.	22 May 1786

[DOC ID:5277]	Reply, for the 'Rev. Mr Burnside'. Cullen apologises to Gilchrist for his delay in replying as he 'was obliged to be often in the Country' (possibly relating to his wife's health). He says he has refused the fee for this case. He regards the headaches and sweating as 'very entirely Rheumatic' and gives advice for treatment. Dr Gilchrist should tell Mr Burnside that the sensation he reported of 'the opening of his suture [i.e. of the bones of his skull] is a pure imagination, but let me tell you, that I believe it may have a meaning, and express a distention of the extremities of the numerous arteries which [...] have numerous inosculations along the course of the sagittal suture'.	28 May 1786

[DOC ID:2827]	Letter from John Gilchrist, concerning the case of Rev. William Burnside, who is better than he was but still suffers from sweating of the head, headaches and a throat ailment. Gilchrist writes: 'it will be best not to mention what I said about his full living. In his present circumstances it would not answer to speak to him so freely on that subject as it may do afterwards.' The letter also refers back to their treatment of McMurdo of Drumnlanrig's son (see case 1732).	5 June 1786

[DOC ID:5284]	Reply, for 'Mr Burnside'. Cullen again apologises to Gilchrist for his delay in replying: 'Again a piece of troublesome business the illness of my own wife has obliged me to be in the Country' (she died a few months later). He gives further advice for treatment, such as gradually reducing the temperature of the water to bathe Burnside's head and face until it is 'the temperature of the sea'.	8 June 1786

[DOC ID:2830]	Letter from John Gilchrist, concerning the case of Rev. Burnside, who is still unwell. Gilchrist had forgotten to mention previously that he had used 12 leeches on Burnside when the headaches were severe. In a lengthy postscript, he adds that the patient's appetite is improving: 'he had not only taken his poached egg the night before, but at dinner time had, entirely of his own accord, eaten a bit of Pigeon'. Rev. Burnside's brother, from Nottingham, had previously consulted Cullen for rheumatism a few years previously (Case ID 1453). A reference to 'other medical visitors' probably means Alexander Copland.	13 June 1786

[DOC ID:5288]	Reply, for the Rev. 'Mr. Burnside'. Addressing John Gilchrist, Cullen writes, 'I chuse to shew my attention both on account of Mr. Burnside himself and upon account of his Brother for whom I have a great regard'. He gives advice on bleeding, including leeches, bark and keeping him cool. He extends his compliments to Mrs Gilchrist, apologising for neglecting to do so previously.	17 June 1786

People involved in this case

13 found.

PERS ID	Full Name
[PERS ID: 4353]	Mr
[PERS ID: 4348]	Reverend William Burnside (of Dumfries)
[PERS ID: 4352]	Mrs Ann Burnside
[PERS ID: 4364]	Mr Burnside (in Nottingham)
[PERS ID: 566]	Mr Alexander Copland (Coupland; of King's Grange)
[PERS ID: 1]	Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID: 743]	Mrs Anna Cullen
[PERS ID: 115]	Dr John Gilchrist (of Speddoch)
[PERS ID: 3599]	Mrs Marion Gilchrist (May)
[PERS ID: 4349]	Mr John? Hutton
[PERS ID: 3786]	Mr Macmurdo (McMurdo)
[PERS ID: 3412]	Mr John McMurdoch (McMurdo)
[PERS ID: 472]	Dr Thomas Mutter (Reverend)

Unique Places linked to this Case

6 found.

Type	Specific Place	Village/Town/City (aka)	Region	Country	Continent	Confidence
Specific	Cullen's House / Mint Close	Edinburgh	Edinburgh and East	Scotland	Europe	certain
Place		Dumfries	Borders	Scotland	Europe	certain
Place		Edinburgh	Edinburgh and East	Scotland	Europe	certain
Place		Drumlanrig (Drumlanrig Castle)	Borders	Scotland	Europe	certain
Place		Leith	Edinburgh and East	Scotland	Europe	certain
Place		Nottingham	Midlands	England	Europe	certain

Places and role of place

8 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		Dumfries	Borders	Scotland	Europe	certain
Place	Destination of Letter		Edinburgh	Edinburgh and East	Scotland	Europe	certain
Place	Destination of Letter		Dumfries	Borders	Scotland	Europe	inferred
Place	Mentioned / Other		Leith	Edinburgh and East	Scotland	Europe	certain
Place	Mentioned / Other		Drumlanrig (Drumlanrig Castle)	Borders	Scotland	Europe	certain
Place	Mentioned / Other		Nottingham	Midlands	England	Europe	certain
Place	Place of Handstamp		Dumfries	Borders	Scotland	Europe	certain