The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:1432] From: Reverend Patrick Duff (of Old Aberdeen) / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Mrs Henrietta Duff (Lumsden) (Henny) (Patient) / 8 August 1777 / (Incoming)
Letter from Rev. Patrick Duff, concerning the case of his wife (Henrietta), who has been suffering from pains in the shoulder, swelling in the thigh, and sweats. She also spits blood, which he associates this with the fact she has ceased menstruating. A note by Henry Cullen mentions that three pound notes were enclosed.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 4 images for this document.
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Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 1432 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/527 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Incoming |
| Date | 8 August 1777 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Authorial original |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Letter from Rev. Patrick Duff, concerning the case of his wife (Henrietta), who has been suffering from pains in the shoulder, swelling in the thigh, and sweats. She also spits blood, which he associates this with the fact she has ceased menstruating. A note by Henry Cullen mentions that three pound notes were enclosed. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:781] |
Case of Mrs Henrietta Duff who suffers from shoulder pains, a swollen thigh, sweats, and spits blood. |
5 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:2026] | Author | Reverend Patrick Duff (of Old Aberdeen) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Addressee | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:2028] | Patient | Mrs Henrietta Duff (Henny) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:2026] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Reverend Patrick Duff (of Old Aberdeen) |
| [PERS ID:544] | Supplemental Author | Dr Henry Cullen (Harry, Dr Henry, "the young doctor" ) |
Places linked to this document
| Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Writing | Old Aberdeen | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Destination of Letter | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | inferred | |
| Mentioned / Other | Aberdeen | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
Case of Mrs Duff
Mrs Duff is a woman twixt 45 & 50 years of age: and is
by no means of a strong natural Constitution. In Sep¬
tember last she complained of a Pain in her Back just
under her left shoulder. Tho' this Pain was not originally
produced, yet she apprehends that her Disorder was afterwards
very much increased by a pair of damp sheets which she got
from home. The Complaint which originally began in her
left shoulder has by degrees spread itself over her whole Body,
& some time ago seemed to affected her Breast very much.
It has however seated itself at last chiefly in the Joint of her
right Thigh. The Joint of this Thigh was observed ↑about 6 weeks ago,↑ to be
a good deal swelled, & feels sore to the Touch. She complains
much leikwise of what she calls "a starting" or a kind of
Tremor in this Thigh: and this Pain which affects her chiefly in
the Night time when she is warm in bed, is frequently abated
by rubbing the part affected with the Hand. The left shoulder
where the Pain originally began, is sore to the Touch but is
not swelled. She is subject to great Heat & frequent
[Page 2]
sweating over her whole Body; excepting this right Thigh
which never sweats. These sweatings seem only to weaken her.
Besides the Disorder above mentioned, she seems subject
to other Disorders, which do not perhaps appear to be con¬
nected to her principal Complaint. She is occasionally
subject to a spitting of Blood, but to no great Degree:
as the monthly Evacuations have ceased for some time, this
may have occasioned the spitting of Blood. When she
is liable to spitting of Blood, she sometimes complains
of a Difficulty in breathing; but she has no Cough.
These are the most obvious symptoms of her Disorder; and
as it appeared to be of the Rheumatic kind; it has been
treated according to the common Methods for such Disorders.
She has tried the use of Garlic & other particulars of
the american Cure contained in the annual Register of
the Year 1763. 1 She has leikwise used Sarsiparilla
recommended by Dr Fordyce as an infallible Cure for
Rheumatism: 2 and both without Effect. Her Thigh ↑or Leg↑
has been blistered, which seemed to give a little temporary
[Page 3]
Ease, but no substantial Relief. The Thigh has leik¬
wise been fomented which has abated the swelling a little.
For these three Nights past she has got 3 grains of
Dr James's Powders in a Bolus. But this has had no
other Effect, but that she seemed to sweat rather less
than ordinary, & did not seem quite so uneasie next Day;
She has not strength enough to take the Exercise of
riding & is too much distressed with Pain, to bear the Jolting
of a Chaise. The Spring Deal is all the Exercise she
can take. She is obliged to use a little Laudanum
to procure sleep. ✍
This came from Mr Patrick Duff, Minister at
old Aberdeen (his Wife's Case). Inclosed were
three Pound Notes which are now inclosed to
you. They would not have been sent had they
not been Aberdeen Notes 3
[Page 4]
✍ Case of Mrs Duff
July 1777 &c.
V vii P78––––
Notes:
1: The Annual Register, or a view of the history, politicks, and literature, for the year 1763 (London: 1764), includes several articles addressing American matters and others reporting on medical preparations, but none match this precise reference. It is possible it refers to an advertisement which was not reprinted in the full set of the journal.
2: Probably a reference to George Fordyce, Elements of the Practice of Physic (London: 1771), p. 368. Fordyce (1736-1802) was a prominent Scottish-born, London physician who has an entry in DNB.
3: This note was added by Cullen's son Henry before forwarding this letter to his father who, at this date, was away from home on a visit to a patient in Taymouth. Local banks issued their own notes, and it may be that Henry thinks his father has more chance of using 'Aberdeen' notes while he is in the North-East Highlands than when back in Edinburgh.
Diplomatic Text
Case of Mrs Duff
Mrs Duff is a woman twixt 45 & 50 years of age: and is
by no means of a strong natural Constitution. In Sep¬
tember last she complained of a Pain in her Back just
under her left shoulder. Tho' this Pain was not originally
produced, yet she apprehends that her Disorder was afterwards
very much increased by a pair of damp sheets qh she got
from home. The Complaint qh originally began in her
left shoulder has by degrees spread itself over her whole Body,
& some time ago seemed to affected her Breast very much.
It has however seated itself at last chiefly in the Joint of her
right Thigh. The Joint of this Thigh was observed ↑about 6 weeks ago,↑ to be
a good deal swelled, & feels sore to the Touch. She complains
much leikwise of what she calls "a starting" or a kind of
Tremor in this Thigh: and this Pain qch affects her chiefly in
the Night time qn she is warm in bed, is frequently abated
by rubbing the part affected wt the Hand. The left shoulder
where the Pain originally began, is sore to the Touch but is
not swelled. She is subject to great Heat & frequent
[Page 2]
sweating over her whole Body; excepting this right Thigh
qh never sweats. These sweatings seem only to weaken her.
Besides the Disorder above mentioned, she seems subject
to other Disorders, qh do not perhaps appear to be con¬
nected to her principal Complaint. She is occasionally
subject to a spitting of Blood, but to no great Degree:
as the monthly Evacuations have ceased for some time, this
may have occasioned the spitting of Blood. When she
is liable to spitting of Blood, she sometimes complains
of a Difficulty in breathing; but she has no Cough.
These are the most obvious symptoms of her Disorder; and
as it appeared to be of the Rheumatic kind; it has been
treated according to the common Methods for such Disorders.
She has tried the use of Garlic & other particulars of
the american Cure contained in the annual Register of
the Year 1763. 1 She has leikwise used Sarsiparilla
recommended by Dr Fordyce as an infallible Cure for
Rheumatism: 2 and both without Effect. Her Thigh ↑or Leg↑
has been blistered, qch seemed to give a little temporary
[Page 3]
Ease, but no substantial Relief. The Thigh has leik¬
wise been fomented qch has abated the swelling a little.
For these three Nights past she has got 3 grains of
Dr James's Powders in a Bolus. But this has had no
other Effect, but that she seemed to sweat rather less
than ordinary, & did not seem quite so uneasie next Day;
She has not strength enough to take the Exercise of
riding & is too much distressed wt Pain, to bear the Jolting
of a Chaise. The Spring Deal is all the Exercise she
can take. She is obliged to use a little Laudanum
to procure sleep. ✍
This came from Mr Patrick Duff, Minister at
old Aberdeen (his Wife's Case). Inclosed were
three Pound Notes which are now inclosed to
you. They would not have been sent had they
not been Aberdeen Notes 3
[Page 4]
✍ Case of Mrs Duff
July 1777 &c.
V vii P78––––
Notes:
1: The Annual Register, or a view of the history, politicks, and literature, for the year 1763 (London: 1764), includes several articles addressing American matters and others reporting on medical preparations, but none match this precise reference. It is possible it refers to an advertisement which was not reprinted in the full set of the journal.
2: Probably a reference to George Fordyce, Elements of the Practice of Physic (London: 1771), p. 368. Fordyce (1736-1802) was a prominent Scottish-born, London physician who has an entry in DNB.
3: This note was added by Cullen's son Henry before forwarding this letter to his father who, at this date, was away from home on a visit to a patient in Taymouth. Local banks issued their own notes, and it may be that Henry thinks his father has more chance of using 'Aberdeen' notes while he is in the North-East Highlands than when back in Edinburgh.
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