The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:116] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Earl James Ogilvie (Ogilvy; 7th Earl of Findlater, 4th Earl of Seafield; Lord Deskford (before 1770)) / Regarding: Earl James Ogilvie (Ogilvy; 7th Earl of Findlater, 4th Earl of Seafield; Lord Deskford (before 1770)) (Patient) / 6 April 1781 / (Outgoing)
Reply to the Earl of Findlater with an extensive regimen, covering his diet, changes of climate, and the use of mineral waters (Pyrmont and Spa). The first few lines on p. 4 appear to be in another hand and, unusually, there is a blank page in the run of mounted machine copied pages.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 7 images for this document.
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Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 116 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/14/5 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 6 April 1781 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Machine copy |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | Yes |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply to the Earl of Findlater with an extensive regimen, covering his diet, changes of climate, and the use of mineral waters (Pyrmont and Spa). The first few lines on p. 4 appear to be in another hand and, unusually, there is a blank page in the run of mounted machine copied pages. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1341] |
Case of the Earl of Findlater who is advised on a regimen to manage his nervous weakness. See also Case 119. |
2 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:76] | Addressee | Earl James Ogilvie (Ogilvy; 7th Earl of Findlater, 4th Earl of Seafield; Lord Deskford (before 1770)) |
| [PERS ID:76] | Patient | Earl James Ogilvie (Ogilvy; 7th Earl of Findlater, 4th Earl of Seafield; Lord Deskford (before 1770)) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
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 | Cullen House | Cullen | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | inferred |
| Therapeutic Recommendation | South Europe | Europe | certain | |||
| Therapeutic Recommendation | Spa | Belgium | Belgium | Europe | certain | |
| Therapeutic Recommendation | Pouhon Pierre le Grand | Spa | Belgium | Belgium | Europe | certain |
| Therapeutic Recommendation | Sauvenière | Spa | Belgium | Belgium | Europe | certain |
| Mentioned / Other | Britain | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
For the Earl of Findlater
As your Lordship does me the honour to
ask it of me I shall with the utmost attention give my ad¬
vise for your Lordships management of health for the some
time to come.
By original constitution your nerves are not so strong
as were to be wished & from thence proceed all the ailment to¬
gether of the stomach or head that are complained of. To
obviate these ailments as far as possible we must take pains
to strengthen the nervous system by regimen and medicines
A principal part of the necessary regimen is being much
in the fresh air and in gentle exercise sometimes on foot but
more frequently on horseback. I am glad to observe that your
Lordship is sufficiently attentive to this matter and all that
is necessary for me is to say somewhat of the choice of climate.
With respect to this I am clear that your Lordship may be
hurt by either great heat or great cold and therefore that
[Page 2]
your Lordship should avoid both extremes and therefore [acc¬]
cording to the season to chuse your climate. From the begin¬
ning or at least the middle of June ↑to the middle of September↑ I hold the climate of Brit¬
tain and even the northern parts of it to be safer than that
of any part upon the continent. And on the other hand –
when cold is to be avoided I think there is no safety but
in the Southern parts of Europe from the beginning of
November to the end of March but from the latter to [the?]
former period the choice of climate may be indifferent –
tho for the whole of it Brittain will generally be safest as
in a very Southern climate the heats often set in in the
month of April and often last longer than the month of Sep¬
tember. I have thus given my opinion to be applied when
matters are to be considered strictly but own that the circum¬
stances of health, business or even amusement may make a
good deal of variation in these matters.
The other part of regimen necessary is the management
of Diet & on this subject I have little to say as yours
[Page 3]
is for the most part sufficiently exact & temperate. I think a few
glasses of wine and of a strong wine diluted with water very proper
for your Lordships stomach and further than a few glasses I
believe your Lordship seldom goes. All the weaker wines and
even claret I hold to be very improper. Plain water or toast
water I hold to be most proper for ordinary drink and all kind
of Malt liquors whether strong or weak to be very improper.
Certain weak stomachs can bear no fermented liquors and are
obliged to have recourse to spiritous liquors. I hope your
Lordship is not in this condition and I advise you to avoid
spirituous liquors in every shape as long as possible.
With respect to food I find no occasion for any nicety
in the choice of the quality of it. Unless your Lordship has
experience of certain meats lying heavy upon your stomach
or otherwise not agreeing with it I can find no objection to
your taking every or ↑any↑ kind whether flesh or fish in ordinary
use if heavy sauces and high seasonings are voided. ––
Garden things especially the colder & more flatulent kinds
[Page 4]
✍
should be taken sparingly. Spiceries may be taken but it
should be always very moderately. Mustard is the safest
of all seasoning. Pickles of every kind are improper for
a weak stomach. ✍
With this regimen certain remedies may be employed and
cold bathing is truly one of the best remedies of weak nerves but
I dare not advise it for your Lordship as an afflux of blood to
the head has frequently appeared in your Lordships constitution
and cold bathing has frequently increased such afflux with some
danger. But your Lordship seems to have some prejudice in
favour of this remedy and I shall only say further that in my
opinion your Lordship cannot try it without shaving the
head and applying the cold water first to that part.
If Medicines are to be employed the most effectual are Bark
bitters and Chalybeates and for these I have already had the
honour of prescribing for your Lordship and I hope with some
advantage. These prescriptions I propose to communicate to
your Lordship to be employed when it shall seem proper but
[Page 5]
I must observe that those medicines and particularly the
Bark and bitters by very frequent and long use continued
use are ready to become hurtfull to the stomach and whole
constitution. I must therefore advise your Lordship to
use them as seldom as possible and never long at one
time and frequently to alternate your medicines taking
sometimes the bitter Infusion & sometimes the chalybeate
Electuary.
Preferable to any Drug as a Chalybeate I would prefer
recommend a chalybeate mineral water such as Pyrmont
or Spaw but I think the last best suited to your Lordships
constitution. Whichever shall be chosen I think they
are best taken at a season that is neither hot nor cold and
that is in the month of May and I have your Lordship
to leave them before any great heat sets in as it may do in
the month of June. When either of these waters ↑are↑ used
it is most proper to take them in the morning before
breakfast & to take a good deal of exercise on horseback
[Page 6]
every day that is tolerably fair.
With these waters the diet should be lighter that is consist¬
ing of less animal food than at other times and I now observe
that I have omitted above to say anything about the quantity
of food proper for your Lordship. I must therefore say here
that it is of consequence in all such complaints as your
Lordship is troubled with, to keep the stomach always light
and never to be loaded with a full meal and particularly of
animal food. On many occasions a good appetite is apt to
carry us too far & when such an appetite occurrs we must
take care to cheat it by taking the necessary bulk of food of
a lighter kind and therefore instead of a full meal of animal
food to fill it up with soup, pudding or vegetables, such as
the stomach bears.
In drinking either Pyrmont or Spaw Waters it is pro¬
per to begin with some of the lighter kinds as the Sauveniere
at Spa and afterwards proceed to Pohoun.
It is proper also to begin with a small quantity and
[Page 7]
by degrees to proceed to a stronger dose dividing it always into
small portions rather than taking large draughts at once.
Upon the whole I think a large quantity is never necessary &
is not always safe. In your Lordships case I think an
English quart in a day should be your ultimatum.
In every situation it is very necessary for your Lordship
to attend to the state of your belly and never to allow Costive¬
ness to go to any great degree without taking medicine for
which your Lordship shall be provided with a prescription
My Lord
your Lordships
most obedient and
most humble servant
1781
Diplomatic Text
For the Earl of Findlater
As your Lordship does me the honour to
ask it of me I shall with the utmost attention give my ad¬
vise for your Lordships management of health for the some
time to come.
By original constitution your nerves are not so strong
as were to be wished & from thence proceed all the ailment to¬
gether of the stomach or head that are complained of. To
obviate these ailments as far as possible we must take pains
to strengthen the nervous system by regimen and medicines
A principal part of the necessary regimen is being much
in the fresh air and in gentle exercise sometimes on foot but
more frequently on horseback. I am glad to observe that your
Lordship is sufficiently attentive to this matter and all that
is necessary for me is to say somewhat of the choice of climate.
With respect to this I am clear that your Lordship may be
hurt by either great heat or great cold and therefore that
[Page 2]
your Lordship should avoid both extremes and therefore [acc¬]
cording to the season to chuse your climate. From the begin¬
ning or at least the middle of June ↑to the middle of September↑ I hold the climate of Brit¬
tain and even the northern parts of it to be safer than that
of any part upon the continent. And on the other hand –
when cold is to be avoided I think there is no safety but
in the Southern parts of Europe from the beginning of
November to the end of March but from the latter to [the?]
former period the choice of climate may be indifferent –
tho for the whole of it Brittain will generally be safest as
in a very Southern climate the heats often set in in the
month of April and often last longer than the month of Sep¬
tember. I have thus given my opinion to be applied when
matters are to be considered strictly but own that the circum¬
stances of health, business or even amusement may make a
good deal of variation in these matters.
The other part of regimen necessary is the management
of Diet & on this subject I have little to say as yours
[Page 3]
is for the most part sufficiently exact & temperate. I think a few
glasses of wine and of a strong wine diluted with water very proper
for your Lordships stomach and further than a few glasses I
believe your Lordship seldom goes. All the weaker wines and
even claret I hold to be very improper. Plain water or toast
water I hold to be most proper for ordinary drink and all kind
of Malt liquors whether strong or weak to be very improper.
Certain weak stomachs can bear no fermented liquors and are
obliged to have recourse to spiritous liquors. I hope your
Lordship is not in this condition and I advise you to avoid
spirituous liquors in every shape as long as possible.
With respect to food I find no occasion for any nicety
in the choice of the quality of it. Unless your Lordship has
experience of certain meats lying heavy upon your stomach
or otherwise not agreeing with it I can find no objection to
your taking every or ↑any↑ kind whether flesh or fish in ordinary
use if heavy sauces and high seasonings are voided. ––
Garden things especially the colder & more flatulent kinds
[Page 4]
✍
should be taken sparingly. Spiceries may be taken but it
should be always very moderately. Mustard is the safest
of all seasoning. Pickles of every kind are improper for
a weak stomach. ✍
With this regimen certain remedies may be employed and
cold bathing is truly one of the best remedies of weak nerves but
I dare not advise it for your Lordship as an afflux of blood to
the head has frequently appeared in your Lordships constitution
and cold bathing has frequently increased such afflux with some
danger. But your Lordship seems to have some prejudice in
favour of this remedy and I shall only say further that in my
opinion your Lordship cannot try it without shaving the
head and applying the cold water first to that part.
If Medicines are to be employed the most effectual are Bark
bitters and Chalybeates and for these I have already had the
honour of prescribing for your Lordship and I hope with some
advantage. These prescriptions I propose to communicate to
your Lordship to be employed when it shall seem proper but
[Page 5]
I must observe that those medicines and particularly the
Bark and bitters by very frequent and long use continued
use are ready to become hurtfull to the stomach and whole
constitution. I must therefore advise your Lordship to
use them as seldom as possible and never long at one
time and frequently to alternate your medicines taking
sometimes the bitter Infusion & sometimes the chalybeate
Electuary.
Preferable to any Drug as a Chalybeate I would prefer
recommend a chalybeate mineral water such as Pyrmont
or Spaw but I think the last best suited to your Lordships
constitution. Whichever shall be chosen I think they
are best taken at a season that is neither hot nor cold and
that is in the month of May and I have your Lordship
to leave them before any great heat sets in as it may do in
the month of June. When either of these waters ↑are↑ used
it is most proper to take them in the morning before
breakfast & to take a good deal of exercise on horseback
[Page 6]
every day that is tolerably fair.
With these waters the diet should be lighter that is consist¬
ing of less animal food than at other times and I now observe
that I have omitted above to say anything about the quantity
of food proper for your Lordship. I must therefore say here
that it is of consequence in all such complaints as your
Lordship is troubled with, to keep the stomach always light
and never to be loaded with a full meal and particularly of
animal food. On many occasions a good appetite is apt to
carry us too far & when such an appetite occurrs we must
take care to cheat it by taking the necessary bulk of food of
a lighter kind and therefore instead of a full meal of animal
food to fill it up with soup, pudding or vegetables, such as
the stomach bears.
In drinking either Pyrmont or Spaw Waters it is pro¬
per to begin with some of the lighter kinds as the Sauveniere
at Spa and afterwards proceed to Pohoun.
It is proper also to begin with a small quantity and
[Page 7]
by degrees to proceed to a stronger dose dividing it always into
small portions rather than taking large draughts at once.
Upon the whole I think a large quantity is never necessary &
is not always safe. In your Lordships case I think an
English quart in a day should be your ultimatum.
In every situation it is very necessary for your Lordship
to attend to the state of your belly and never to allow Costive¬
ness to go to any great degree without taking medicine for
which your Lordship shall be provided with a prescription
My Lord
your Lordships
most obedient and
most humble servant
1781
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