The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:1693] From: Dr Alexander Taylor (Sanders) / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Mr Robert Neilson (Nielson, of Paisley) (Patient), Miss Margaret Neilson (Peggy) (Patient), Mr Claud Neilson (Claude Nielson; of Ardarden) (Patient) / 25 June 1779 / (Incoming)
Letter from Alexander Taylor concerning the cases of Peggie Nielson, her father and her brother Claud Nielson who wants his enquiry kept secret from his father.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 3 images for this document.
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Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 1693 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/780 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Incoming |
| Date | 25 June 1779 |
| 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 Alexander Taylor concerning the cases of Peggie Nielson, her father and her brother Claud Nielson who wants his enquiry kept secret from his father. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:316] |
Case of Mr Robert Neilson with a chronic, progressive illness, probably pulmonary (consumption) but possible cardiac. After a gap, in early January 1782, Cullen confirms that Neilson's condition is terminal. An autopsy soon follows. |
22 |
| [Case ID:1110] |
Case of Peggie Nielson who has a chest complaint and has now developed an inflamed and swollen face. |
2 |
| [Case ID:1111] |
Case of Claude Nielson who is passing blood in his urine, and has had a venereal infection he wants kept secret from his father. |
1 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:207] | Author | Dr Alexander Taylor (Sanders) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Addressee | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:3034] | Patient | Mr Claud Neilson (Claude Nielson; of Ardarden) |
| [PERS ID:206] | Patient | Mr Robert Neilson (Nielson, of Paisley) |
| [PERS ID:2092] | Patient | Miss Margaret Neilson (Peggy) |
| [PERS ID:207] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr Alexander Taylor (Sanders) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:3034] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Mr Claud Neilson (Claude Nielson; of Ardarden) |
| [PERS ID:206] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Mr Robert Neilson (Nielson, of Paisley) |
| [PERS ID:2092] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Miss Margaret Neilson (Peggy) |
| [PERS ID:2668] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Mrs Jean Neilson (Nielson) |
Places linked to this document
| Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Writing | Paisley | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | inferred | |
| Destination of Letter | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
The inflammation &
Swelling of Miss Nielson's face, which I mentioned
in my last, went off without any Consequences - her
Cough has been ever since pretty easy - She has had
no pain in her breast but hawks up with freedom
considerable quantities of yellow expectoration
which from its Viscidity I can scarce believe to be
Pus; and which she says she feels coming from
the right side of her breast - she has had no return
of the looseness and any threatnings of this kind
have been always checked by the Strengthening
mixture - at any time I have felt it her pulse
has never been above 90 in the minute; and her
Appetite is far from bad for besides her dinner
as usual she now takes porr Water porridge &
milk to Supper and breakfast and she takes
them with pleasure - the sores do not run much
and are not so painful as formerly and have a
good appearance - but tho' all the above
may appear favourable I am afraid there is
no great room for hope for she does not appear
to gain Strength but on the contrary seems
to lose it - and within these 3 or 4 days Sweats
have broke out upon her face and breast to¬
wards morning; and in the fore part of the
night she is hot and restless - but I cannot in¬
form you of the State of her pulse at this time
because as she is out of Town I do not then see
her - Within these few days too she has made very
little Water and has had some little uneasinessin
[Page 2]
attempting it- - This day Mrs. Nielson and the
People about her were greatly alarmed - she was
believed to be dying - upon Visiting her I found
her hands and feet Cold all her body Cold rather
Cold and Observed that she had been drenched in
Sweat for her very stockings were damp and wet -
but her pulse was perfectly regular and not very
weak and beat 71 in the minute - upon enquire¬
ing into the Cause of the alarm I was informed
that the preceeding night her feet were observed
to be blue and Cold - that in the morning she had
awakened at the usual time and taken her
breakfast very heartily - but in about an hour
after she Complained of being faintish and
upon going to bed ↑and falling asleep↑ a Copious and Universal
Sweat broke out - in this State she Continued
for upwards of two hours breathing soft and slowly
and was so drowsy it was with some difficulty
she was at last awakened - it was at this time
I saw her - She found herself hungry and eat with
appetite two legs of a brandered 1 Chicken and a
slice of bread; she likewise took a little wine &
↑presently↑ During the time I saw her she talked as usual
and was even remarkably Chearful and after
her dinner her pulse rose to 84 in the minute
- I Observed no particular Colour in her feet and
they are not Swelled -- these marks of weak¬
ness indicate, as I think, the use of Wine & bark
but I have a doubt whether the bark may not
bring the looseness; and before I give it I wish
to have your opinion ---
Upon Saturday was eight days Mr. Nielson
took another dose (℈j) of Dovers powder; and by
being more Cautious than before in having his feet
well warmed before he took it, it remained upon
[Page 3]
his Stomach and produced a Constant and free
Sweat which has been of considerable Service; for the
pains are re now removed to his shoulders and are
much easier and he gets more comfortable sleep
than formerly; but he is still pinned down to one
position in his bed and even when he ventures to
lye upon his back it immediately brings on the
Palpitation and faintness -- in the night imme¬
diately following the day he had taken the powder
he was attacked with a violent pain in the lower
part of his belly which went off next day upon
taking a few Salts and getting passage of his belly
- the severity of the Pains were at ↑the↑ first removed; but
for two or 3 days he felt himself Sickish and had little
appetite; but the Sickness then went off and his
appetite has been for this some time remarkably
good and his Colour and look much better than
before -- he wants your opinion when the powder
ought to be repeated and whether he {illeg} dare
use the Cold bath whilst the Palpitation or any
remains of the pains continue --
Mr. Claud Nielson, Mr. Nielson's son, takes
the opportunity to beg the favour of your advice
and as he wished to keep his Complaint a Secret
from his Father you will be so good as let me have your answer upon a detached piece of Paper --
it is two months since he observed a few drops of blood follow
after making water - this returned next day at the same time
and so on for the two or three days succeeding - he then injected
some florence oil and he saw no more of it for two or 3 weeks
but a month ↑ago↑ he was attacked with a slight feverishness and
ever since has had a regular return of his former Complaint
exactly in the middle of the day and at no other time; he feels
no particular part of the Urethra pained and excepting a
weariedness in the fore and upper parts of his thighs he feels
no uneasiness whatever neither in voiding it not at no other time &
there is never more than 4 or 5 drops of blood in the Semen
- About half a year ago he had a Clap which continued two
months before it stopped; but was accompanied with no severe symp¬
tom and any Chordee he had was very moderate - he is a tall slender
delicate lad about 20 years old -- I am Sir your most humble servant
Notes:
1: Boiled or grilled.
Diplomatic Text
The inflammation &
Swelling of Miss Nielson's face, which I mentioned
in my last, went off without any Consequences - her
Cough has been ever since pretty easy - She has had
no pain in her breast but hawks up with freedom
considerable quantities of yellow expectoration
which from its Viscidity I can scarce believe to be
Pus; and which she says she feels coming from
the right side of her breast - she has had no return
of the looseness and any threatnings of this kind
have been always checked by the Strengthening
mixture - at any time I have felt it her pulse
has never been above 90 in the minute; and her
Appetite is far from bad for besides her dinner
as usual she now takes porr Water porridge &
milk to Supper and breakfast and she takes
them with pleasure - the sores do not run much
and are not so painful as formerly and have a
good appearance - but tho' all the above
may appear favourable I am afraid there is
no great room for hope for she does not appear
to gain Strength but on the contrary seems
to lose it - and within these 3 or 4 days Sweats
have broke out upon her face and breast to¬
wards morning; and in the fore part of the
night she is hot and restless - but I cannot in¬
form you of the State of her pulse at this time
because as she is out of Town I do not then see
her - Within these few days too she has made very
little Water and has had some little uneasinessin
[Page 2]
attempting it- - This day Mrs. Nielson and the
People about her were greatly alarmed - she was
believed to be dying - upon Visiting her I found
her hands and feet Cold all her body Cold rather
Cold and Observed that she had been drenched in
Sweat for her very stockings were damp and wet -
but her pulse was perfectly regular and not very
weak and beat 71 in the minute - upon enquire¬
ing into the Cause of the alarm I was informed
that the preceeding night her feet were observed
to be blue and Cold - that in the morning she had
awakened at the usual time and taken her
breakfast very heartily - but in about an hour
after she Complained of being faintish and
upon going to bed ↑and falling asleep↑ a Copious and Universal
Sweat broke out - in this State she Continued
for upwards of two hours breathing soft and slowly
and was so drowsy it was with some difficulty
she was at last awakened - it was at this time
I saw her - She found herself hungry and eat with
appetite two legs of a brandered 1 Chicken and a
slice of bread; she likewise took a little wine &
↑presently↑ During the time I saw her she talked as usual
and was even remarkably Chearful and after
her dinner her pulse rose to 84 in the minute
- I Observed no particular Colour in her feet and
they are not Swelled -- these marks of weak¬
ness indicate, as I think, the use of Wine & bark
but I have a doubt whether the bark may not
bring the looseness; and before I give it I wish
to have your opinion ---
Upon Saturday was eight days Mr. Nielson
took another dose (℈j) of Dovers powder; and by
being more Cautious than before in having his feet
well warmed before he took it, it remained upon
[Page 3]
his Stomach and produced a Constant and free
Sweat which has been of considerable Service; for the
pains are re now removed to his shoulders and are
much easier and he gets more comfortable sleep
than formerly; but he is still pinned down to one
position in his bed and even when he ventures to
lye upon his back it immediately brings on the
Palpitation and faintness -- in the night imme¬
diately following the day he had taken the powder
he was attacked with a violent pain in the lower
part of his belly which went off next day upon
taking a few Salts and getting passage of his belly
- the severity of the Pains were at ↑the↑ first removed; but
for two or 3 days he felt himself Sickish and had little
appetite; but the Sickness then went off and his
appetite has been for this some time remarkably
good and his Colour and look much better than
before -- he wants your opinion when the powder
ought to be repeated and whether he {illeg} dare
use the Cold bath whilst the Palpitation or any
remains of the pains continue --
Mr. Claud Nielson, Mr. Nielson's son, takes
the opportunity to beg the favour of your advice
and as he wished to keep his Complaint a Secret
from his Father you will be so good as let me have your answer upon a detached piece of Paper --
it is two months since he observed a few drops of blood follow
after making water - this returned next day at the same time
and so on for the two or three days succeeding - he then injected
some florence oil and he saw no more of it for two or 3 weeks
but a month ↑ago↑ he was attacked with a slight feverishness and
ever since has had a regular return of his former Complaint
exactly in the middle of the day and at no other time; he feels
no particular part of the Urethra pained and excepting a
weariedness in the fore and upper parts of his thighs he feels
no uneasiness whatever neither in voiding it not at no other time &
there is never more than 4 or 5 drops of blood in the Semen
- About half a year ago he had a Clap which continued two
months before it stopped; but was accompanied with no severe symp¬
tom and any Chordee he had was very moderate - he is a tall slender
delicate lad about 20 years old -- I am Sir your most humble servt.
Notes:
1: Boiled or grilled.
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