The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:1184] From: Dr John Burn (at Berwick) / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: I. or John Scott (Patient) / 11 December 1775 / (Incoming)
Letter from John Burn regarding the case of Mr Scott's son. Since the previous letter was sent in a hurry, he expands on the case here, giving more details about the patient. A handstamp is present but illegible. A list of names added - probably at a later date - to the reverse of the letter almost certainly refers to Edinburgh medical students. Some cross-referencing of known matriculation dates suggests that it is probably one of Cullen's class-lists for the year 1775/6. It includes the name of Charles Darwin (1758-1778), the eldest son of the physician and poet Erasmus Darwin (1731-1802). Charles was uncle of Charles Darwin (1809-1882), the biologist who discovered natural selection but predeceased the birth of his nephew, having died of an infected wound sustained during an anatomy class at Edinburgh in 1778.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 3 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
[Page 3]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 1184 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/284 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Incoming |
| Date | 11 December 1775 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Authorial original |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | Yes |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Letter from John Burn regarding the case of Mr Scott's son. Since the previous letter was sent in a hurry, he expands on the case here, giving more details about the patient. A handstamp is present but illegible. A list of names added - probably at a later date - to the reverse of the letter almost certainly refers to Edinburgh medical students. Some cross-referencing of known matriculation dates suggests that it is probably one of Cullen's class-lists for the year 1775/6. It includes the name of Charles Darwin (1758-1778), the eldest son of the physician and poet Erasmus Darwin (1731-1802). Charles was uncle of Charles Darwin (1809-1882), the biologist who discovered natural selection but predeceased the birth of his nephew, having died of an infected wound sustained during an anatomy class at Edinburgh in 1778. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | Yes |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:492] |
Case of young Mr Scott whose fainting episodes are attributed to 'rapid growth'. His father may be case 493. |
3 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:323] | Author | Dr John Burn (at Berwick) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Addressee | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:1221] | Patient | I. or John Scott |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:1221] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | I. or John Scott |
| [PERS ID:1226] | Other | Dr John Caulet |
| [PERS ID:1235] | Other | Dr Horace Buckner |
| [PERS ID:1227] | Other | Dr Edward Mease |
| [PERS ID:1236] | Other | Dr George Shaw |
| [PERS ID:1229] | Other | Dr Thomas Paytherus (Peytherus) |
| [PERS ID:1237] | Other | Dr Ezekiel Dorsey |
| [PERS ID:1230] | Other | Dr Philip Fischer |
| [PERS ID:1231] | Other | Dr Samuel Foart Simmons |
| [PERS ID:1223] | Other | Mr Charles Darwin |
| [PERS ID:1232] | Other | Dr Robert Garraway |
| [PERS ID:1224] | Other | Dr Dennis Dorsey |
| [PERS ID:1233] | Other | Dr Thomas Blackburne |
| [PERS ID:1225] | Other | Dr Lewis Brotherson |
| [PERS ID:1234] | Other | Dr Nathaniel Tucker |
Places linked to this document
| Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Writing | Berwick-upon-Tweed (Berwick) | North-East | England | Europe | certain | |
| Destination of Letter | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
A Friend of Mine will
have conveyed or will convey a letter
to you which I wrote yesterday con¬
cerning his son a Patient of Mine
I wrote it in some hurry as Mr Scots
time was short in Town. I therefore
must Observe by way of addition to the
Letter I sent by Mr Scot concerning his
son that his appetite was very good
his sleeps Calm and long and rose
in the Morning refresh'd, he had no sweatings
neither nocturnal or in the day time, subject
to no heats nor flushings in the Cheeks but
very bafling; is of a Costive habit of Body, No
particular sediment in the Urine nor great
quanttys made at a time rather Pale in general
I once found a Linnen Cloth tinged a little yellow
after being dyd & dryed in his Urine
[Page 2]
his Pulse is very firm equal & good
very soon after the faintings and a
Clean Moist Tongue -- in short from
his situation in what I have mentioned
One would imagine every secretion
and excretion to be to a wish except
his being rather a little constipated
now and then. I have not to add
but to refer farther what I have
said to the Letter I have sent by
Mr Scott -- I shall expect when you
favour one with a Line that you
will hint everything concerning about
exersise, Diet & Medium.
Dear Doctor
Yours Sincerely
Doctor Cullen
[Page 3]
Doctor Cullen
Edinburgh
North Brittain
Charles Darwin 1
Dennis Dorsey
Lewis Brotherson
John Caulet
Edwd. Mease
Thos. Peythorus
Philip Fischer
Nathl. Tucker
Saml. Foart Simmons
Robt. Garraway
Thos. Blackburne M. D.
Horace Bucker
George Shaw
Ezekiel Dorsey
✍
Mr Burn about
Mr Scott. December 11th 1775.
V.IV.p.96.
Notes:
1: For the significance of this list of Edinburgh students names, probably a class-list - see the general note to this document. For identification of individuals follow links to 'Persons List'.
Diplomatic Text
A Friend of Mine will
have conveyed or will convey a letter
to you which I wrote yesterday con¬
cerning his son a Patient of Mine
I wrote it in some hurry as Mr Scots
time was short in Town. I therefore
must Observe by way of addition to the
Letter I sent by Mr Scot concerning his
son that his appetite was very good
his sleeps Calm and long and rose
in the Morning refresh'd, he had no sweatings
neither nocturnal or in the day time, subject
to no heats nor flushings in the Cheeks but
very bafling; is of a Costive habit of Body, No
particular sediment in the Urine nor great
quanttys made at a time rather Pale in genl
I once found a Linnen Cloth tinged a little yellow
after being dyd & dryed in his Urine
[Page 2]
his Pulse is very firm equal & good
very soon after the faintings and a
Clean Moist Tongue -- in short from
his situation in what I have mentioned
One would imagine every secretion
and excretion to be to a wish except
his being rather a little constipated
now and then. I have not to add
but to refer farther what I have
said to the Letter I have sent by
Mr Scott -- I shall expect when you
favour one with a Line that you
will hint everything concerning about
exersise, Diet & Medium.
Dear Doctor
Yrs Sincerely
Doctor Cullen
[Page 3]
Doctor Cullen
Edinburgh
North Brittain
Chas Darwin 1
Dennis Dorsey
Lewis Brotherson
John Caulet
Edwd. Mease
Thos. Peythorus
Philip Fischer
Nathl. Tucker
Saml. Foart Simmons
Robt. Garraway
Thos. Blackburne M. D.
Horace Bucker
George Shaw
Ezekiel Dorsey
✍
Mr Burn about
Mr Scott. Decr 11th 1775.
V.IV.p.96.
Notes:
1: For the significance of this list of Edinburgh students names, probably a class-list - see the general note to this document. For identification of individuals follow links to 'Persons List'.
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