Cullen

The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh

 

[ID:181] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Mr John McFarquhar (Farquharson) / Regarding: Mr Hugh Munro (Monro, of Achanie, of Achannie) (Patient) / 15 August 1781 / (Outgoing)

Letter to [John Farquhar], 'For Mr Munro of Achanni', concerning the patient's suspected liver disease.

Facsimile

There are 3 images for this document.

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[Page 2]


 

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Metadata

FieldData
DOC ID 181
RCPE Catalogue Number CUL/1/1/14/67
Main Language English
Document Direction Outgoing
Date15 August 1781
Annotation None
TypeMachine copy
Enclosure(s) No enclosure(s)
Autopsy No
Recipe No
Regimen No
Letter of Introduction No
Case Note No
Summary Letter to [John Farquhar], 'For Mr Munro of Achanni', concerning the patient's suspected liver disease.
Manuscript Incomplete? No
Evidence of Commercial Posting No

Case

Cases that this document belongs to:

Case ID Description Num Docs
[Case ID:2076]
Case of Mr Hugh Munro of Achanie, who is suspected of having liver disease.
4


People linked to this document

Person IDRole in documentPerson
[PERS ID:1]AuthorDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:2842]AddresseeMr John McFarquhar (Farquharson)
[PERS ID:156]PatientMr Hugh Munro (Monro, of Achanie, of Achannie)
[PERS ID:1]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:2842]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryMr John McFarquhar (Farquharson)

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 Tain North Highlands Scotland Europe inferred
Mentioned / Other Achany North Highlands Scotland Europe certain

Normalized Text

[Page 1]
For Mr Munro of Achanni


I have with the utmost attention considered the case
which seems to be very distinctly and fully communicated
to me and am sorry to observe that I have but an unfavourable
view of it. The disease appears to me to be in the liver and
a disease in that part at Mr Munro's time of life is not
easily removed. However we must not despair I hope we
need not and I shall advise what I think will the most
probably give relief.


The blistering was extremely proper and of the pain of the
side should again recur with any violence I think it will
still be the surest means of relief. However the Camphorated
Oil
was a very proper trial and with the addition of the quick
Lime
spirit of Salamonie or what we call the Caustick
Volatile Alkali
it may be very effectual. You may put a
Dram of the Spirit to an ounce of the Oil.


The night sweatings give some suspicion of a Sup¬
puration
going on and in that view the Bark and



[Page 2]

Elixir Vitriol were very proper, and if the symptom continue
the same medicines may be still proper. But if any feverish¬
ness
comes on I would have you more free in useing the
Elixir than the Bark.


For removing the obstruction which I suspect in the
Liver I would have his belly kept regular and even open
but without much purging. A medicine proper for this
purpose I have prescribed in the inclosed paper and it may
be employed almost daily, at least so far as to keep the
belly regular. For the same purpose of resolving obstruc¬
tion I have prescribed a Mass of Pills of which he
should take a dose twice a day, an hour before dinner
and again at bedtime.


These are the medicines which in the present cir¬
cumstances I would employ and I hope they shall be
effectual, but I must tell you that I apprehend hydropic
symptoms
may come on. The swelling of his belly give me



[Page 3]

this suspicion but I must own that while his Urine
continues in proportion to his drink we are not to be
alarmed but at this distance I think it is proper for me
to suggest my fears. If such symptoms should come on
your only resource can be in Diuretics and in the inclosed
paper I have given you a Formula which I hope may
be usefull.


While Mr Monro has strength and the weather allows
it will be of service to him to go abroad on horseback.
His motion should be gentle but he should continue it
for a great part of every forenoon taking however a great
deal of care to avoid cold.


In Diet he may take any ordinary fare but he should
be rather sparing of animal food and I think also of much
Liquid food. In drinking he must be very sparing of
every kind of strong drink but according to his
former habit he may have a little, and Spirits and
Water will be as safe as any.

Edinburgh August 15th 1781
William Cullen

Diplomatic Text

[Page 1]
For Mr Munro of Achanni


I have with the utmost attention considered the case
which seems to be very distinctly and fully communicated
to me and am sorry to observe that I have but an unfavourable
view of it. The disease appears to me to be in the liver and
a disease in that part at Mr Munro's time of life is not
easily removed. However we must not despair I hope we
need not and I shall advise what I think will the most
probably give relief.


The blistering was extremely proper and of the pain of the
side should again recur with any violence I think it will
still be the surest means of relief. However the Camphorated
Oil
was a very proper trial and with the addition of the quick
Lime
spirit of Salamonie or what we call the Caustick
Volatile Alkali
it may be very effectual. You may put a
Dram of the Spirit to an ounce of the Oil.


The night sweatings give some suspicion of a Sup¬
puration
going on and in that view the Bark and



[Page 2]

Elixir Vitriol were very proper, and if the symptom continue
the same medicines may be still proper. But if any feverish¬
ness
comes on I would have you more free in useing the
Elixir than the Bark.


For removing the obstruction which I suspect in the
Liver I would have his belly kept regular and even open
but without much purging. A medicine proper for this
purpose I have prescribed in the inclosed paper and it may
be employed almost daily, at least so far as to keep the
belly regular. For the same purpose of resolving obstruc¬
tion I have prescribed a Mass of Pills of which he
should take a dose twice a day, an hour before dinner
and again at bedtime.


These are the medicines which in the present cir¬
cumstances I would employ and I hope they shall be
effectual, but I must tell you that I apprehend hydropic
symptoms
may come on. The swelling of his belly give me



[Page 3]

this suspicion but I must own that while his Urine
continues in proportion to his drink we are not to be
alarmed but at this distance I think it is proper for me
to suggest my fears. If such symptoms should come on
your only resource can be in Diuretics and in the inclosed
paper I have given you a Formula which I hope may
be usefull.


While Mr Monro has strength and the weather allows
it will be of service to him to go abroad on horseback.
His motion should be gentle but he should continue it
for a great part of every forenoon taking however a great
deal of care to avoid cold.


In Diet he may take any ordinary fare but he should
be rather sparing of animal food and I think also of much
Liquid food. In drinking he must be very sparing of
every kind of strong drink but according to his
former habit he may have a little, and Spirits and
Water will be as safe as any.

Edinr Augt. 15th 1781
William Cullen

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