The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:1032] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Sir George Burnet(t) (Burnett of Kemnay) / Regarding: Sir George Burnet(t) (Burnett of Kemnay) (Patient) / 9 October 1780 / (Outgoing)
Reply, 'For George Burnet Esqr.', addressed to the patient. Cullen has 'more than once read over your history with great attention', and is 'persuaded that it is purely Catarrhal without any thing Phthisical or Consumptive'.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 4 images for this document.
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[Page 2]
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Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 1032 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/13/87 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 9 October 1780 |
| 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 George Burnet Esqr.', addressed to the patient. Cullen has 'more than once read over your history with great attention', and is 'persuaded that it is purely Catarrhal without any thing Phthisical or Consumptive'. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1200] |
Case of George Burnet of Kenmay who is emaciated after a very chronic cough, like chin cough which has lasted several years. |
6 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:641] | Addressee | Sir George Burnet(t) (Burnett of Kemnay) |
| [PERS ID:641] | Patient | Sir George Burnet(t) (Burnett of Kemnay) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:157] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Mr Farquhar (McFarquhar) |
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 | Kemnay House | Inverurie | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | inferred |
| Therapeutic Recommendation | South of France | France | Europe | certain | ||
| Therapeutic Recommendation | South of Spain | Spain | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
For George Burnet Esqr.
I have more than once read over your history with
great attention and think I understand your Case very clearly
I am persuaded that it is purely
Catarrhal without any thing
Phthisical or
Consumptive
and therefore that it is not likely
to be soon fatal, but at the same time, I must own that
at your time of life a Catarrh
of ten years standing, is not
to be entirely removed, Indeed it ought not to be entirely re¬
moved, for the discharge which you have
from your Lungs
could not be stopped without
great hazard. But I am very
clearly of opinion that the continuance of it may be ren¬
dered very tolerable & your great distress very much re¬
lieved --
The measure which I think would be the
most effectual and which I would most earnestly recom¬
mend is the avoiding the winter season of this Climate
by going for five or Six months of the Winter and Spring to
Lisbon or the South of France, you say that you could
never bear much heat and it may possibly be so, but in
the places I speak of, you will find no uneasy heat for
the season I have mentioned, but a temperature that would
keep your Cough &
Catarrh very easy. Some years ago
I had a patient who had been afflicted with a violent
Catarrh for more than twenty
years before. I persuaded
him to go one Winter to the South of France and another
to the South of Spain. In both places especially the later
he passed the Winter with very little trouble from his
Catarrh, and came home believing himself
to be entirely Cured
[Page 2]
He continued long and very easy and might have continued
longer if it had not been both from his neglect and
from some other diseases which came upon him and
cut him off. He was several years older than you are
when he first went abroad. I could give you several
other instances to the same purpose, and therefore it is
that this is, the first advice I would offer to you, and if
you can think of executing it, I shall be more particular
in directing the conduct of it --
In the mean time as Family connexions, or
your own aversion to go from home to a Strange Country
or other considerations may prevent your taking the
measure I propose, your first attention must be to
avoid Cold, warm Clothing and particularly a flannel
Shirt next your Skin are
absolutely necessary. You
should occupy a large Chamber free from sifting airs
& which can be kept in a uniform temperature never
cold, nor ever very warm. You should never go abroad
when the Thermometer is under 45 but whenever it
it is at 50 or upwards you may be much the better for
being for two or three hours in the forenoon in your
Carriage ---
Your Diet seems at present to be very well
ordered, the particulars of it seem proper enough and all
I have to say is that you should carefully avoid every
thing heavy and lean to the light both in quality &
quantity. The measure of your Drink seems to be
very allowable, but I would prefer good small Beer
to the Porter at meals - I do not advise you water
[Page 3]
because it might render you Costive. With respect to medicines
I think you have employed some very proper ones, and am
a good deal suprised that you have not found more benefit
from vomiting and blistering than you seem to have done.
I have a good opinion of both for giving you relief whenever
your wheezing or quantity of Phlegm seems to be greater
than usual, I leave you however to be directed in this by
your experience, you do not speak of your ever having
employed an Issue, but I think that such a remedy might
be of great service. I think there are few medicines you
can be much the better, for I would not object to opiates
upon occasion, but I would have you avoid them as
much as you can. Whatever supports your perspiration
will relieve your breast, and I have only one medicine to propose
to you for that purpose, it is a solution of which I would have
you take a spoonful every night at going to bed and every
morning a quarter or half an hour before you get up. These
doses particularly that in the morning should make you a
little squeamish and if the dose was increased it would make
you puke, but I would not desire you to go so far, tho I would
wish your stomach would always feel it a little. You will
try to adjust it in this way, and if it either does more or
less, you will diminish or increase the dose, and you should
always take it for a fortnight together and at several
times thro' the Winter you should take a Course of the
same kind --
I have nothing further to say but that Mr. Farquhar's
prescription was a very proper one, & tho' you formerly
continued it for too long a time at once you may still at
[Page 4]
times return to it with advantage --
If this Letter shall give occasion to any questions which
you shall be pleased to communicate you may depend upon
the punctual attention of
For George Burnet Esqr. Take two ounces of rosewater, two ounces of simple cinnamon water, ten ounces of syrup of caryophilli, and three grains of Tartar Emetic. Mix. Label: Diaphoretic mixture a table spoonful to be taken every night and morning
Diplomatic Text
For George Burnet Esqr.
I have more than once read over your history with
great attention and think I understand your Case very clearly
I am persuaded that it is purely
Catarrhal without any thing
Phthisical or
Consumptive
and therefore that it is not likely
to be soon fatal, but at the same time, I must own that
at your time of life a Catarrh
of ten years standing, is not
to be entirely removed, Indeed it ought not to be entirely re¬
moved, for the discharge which you have
from your Lungs
could not be stopped wt.out
great hazard. But I am very
clearly of opinion that the continuance of it may be ren¬
dered very tolerable & your great distress very much re¬
lieved --
The measure which I think would be the
most effectual and which I would most earnestly recom¬
mend is the avoiding the winter season of this Climate
by going for five or Six months of the Winter and Spring to
Lisbon or the South of France, you say that you could
never bear much heat and it may possibly be so, but in
the places I speak of, you will find no uneasy heat for
the season I have mentioned, but a temperature that would
keep your Cough &
Catarrh very easy. Some years ago
I had a patient who had been afflicted with a violent
Catarrh for more than twenty
years before. I persuaded
him to go one Winter to the South of France and another
to the South of Spain. In both places especially the later
he passed the Winter with very little trouble from his
Catarrh, and came home believing himself
to be entirely Cured
[Page 2]
He continued long and very easy and might have continued
longer if it had not been both from his neglect and
from some other diseases which came upon him and
cut him off. He was several years older than you are
when he first went abroad. I could give you several
other instances to the same purpose, and therefore it is
that this is, the first advice I would offer to you, and if
you can think of executing it, I shall be more particular
in directing the conduct of it --
In the mean time as Family connexions, or
your own aversion to go from home to a Strange Country
or other considerations may prevent your taking the
measure I propose, your first attention must be to
avoid Cold, warm Clothing and particularly a flannel
Shirt next your Skin are
absolutely necessary. You
should occupy a large Chamber free from sifting airs
& which can be kept in a uniform temperature never
cold, nor ever very warm. You should never go abroad
when the Thermometer is under 45 but whenever it
it is at 50 or upwards you may be much the better for
being for two or three hours in the forenoon in your
Carriage ---
Your Diet seems at present to be very well
ordered, the particulars of it seem proper enough and all
I have to say is that you should carefully avoid every
thing heavy and lean to the light both in quality &
quantity. The measure of your Drink seems to be
very allowable, but I would prefer good small Beer
to the Porter at meals - I do not advise you water
[Page 3]
because it might render you Costive. With respect to medics.
I think you have employed some very proper ones, and am
a good deal suprised that you have not found more benefit
from vomiting and blistering than you seem to have done.
I have a good opinion of both for giving you relief whenever
your wheezing or quantity of Phlegm seems to be greater
than usual, I leave you however to be directed in this by
your experience, you do not speak of your ever having
employed an Issue, but I think that such a remedy might
be of great service. I think there are few medicines you
can be much the better, for I would not object to opiates
upon occasion, but I would have you avoid them as
much as you can. Whatever supports your perspiration
will relieve your breast, and I have only one medicine to propose
to you for that purpose, it is a solution of which I would have
you take a spoonful every night at going to bed and every
morning a quarter or half an hour before you get up. These
doses particularly that in the morning should make you a
little squeamish and if the dose was increased it would make
you puke, but I would not desire you to go so far, tho I would
wish your stomach would always feel it a little. You will
try to adjust it in this way, and if it either does more or
less, you will diminish or increase the dose, and you should
always take it for a fortnight together and at several
times thro' the Winter you should take a Course of the
same kind --
I have nothing further to say but that Mr. Farquhar's
prescription was a very proper one, & tho' you formerly
continued it for too long a time at once you may still at
[Page 4]
times return to it with advantage --
If this Letter shall give occasion to any questions which
you shall be pleased to communicate you may depend upon
the punctual attention of
For George Burnet Esqr.
℞ Aq: rosar: ℥ij
--- cinnamon: simpl. ℥ij
Syrp: caryoph: ℥x
Tart: emetic gr:iij
ℳ. Signa Diaphoretic
mixture a table spoonful to
be taken every night and morning
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