The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:1826] From: Mr James Whytt / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Mr Andrew Flockhart (Patient) / 15 March 1780 / (Incoming)
Letter from James Whytt concerning the case of Andrew Flockhart, 'a husband man' who has developed dropsy after being injured by a carriage wheel. Cullen's advice is noted in brief summary form.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
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Metadata
Field | Data |
---|---|
DOC ID | 1826 |
RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/906 |
Main Language | English |
Document Direction | Incoming |
Date | 15 March 1780 |
Annotation | None |
Type | Authorial original |
Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
Autopsy | No |
Recipe | Yes |
Regimen | No |
Letter of Introduction | No |
Case Note | No |
Summary | Letter from James Whytt concerning the case of Andrew Flockhart, 'a husband man' who has developed dropsy after being injured by a carriage wheel. Cullen's advice is noted in brief summary form. |
Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
---|---|---|
[Case ID:1319] |
Case of Andrew Flockhart, 'a husband man' (farmer) who has developed dropsy after being injured by a carriage wheel. |
1 |
People linked to this document
Person ID | Role in document | Person |
---|---|---|
[PERS ID:772] | Author | Mr James Whytt |
[PERS ID:1] | Addressee | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
[PERS ID:771] | Patient | Mr Andrew Flockhart |
[PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
[PERS ID:1] | Supplemental Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
[PERS ID:772] | Supplemental Addressee | Mr James Whytt |
Places linked to this document
Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Place of Writing | Yetts O' Muckhart (Yats of Muckhart) | Mid Scotland | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
Destination of Letter | Cullen's House / Mint Close | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Mentioned / Other | Kinross | Mid Scotland | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
As you was so condescending at last meeting, as
to promise advice in Cases of Difficulty, when laid before
you, which lays me under the greatest obligations to you, &
would be happy, if in my Power, to make a grateful Return
I have given you the Trouble of the following Case, & would be
greatly obliged for your Sentiments & advice upon it, which is
as follows ––– Andrew Flockhart aged fifty two, a Husband man
got a Bruise, by a carriage wheel, on
the Foot, which
swell'd & became
of a livid colour, which continued from october the 20th to January
the 22nd, 1780, the swelling for
some Time was considerably abated
& the Lividity went off but the
swelling returned, & was harder
than at the beginning – the Leg &
foot that escaped the Bruise
has swelled the greater than
the other, & advanced gradually to the
scrotum which is more than
usual & from thence to the Scorbiculus
cordis –– The Abdomen
was greatly extended especially in the Evening
& less in the morning. In the left side
there is considerable Degree of
Hardness from the Epigastric region to the Inguen,
and about
the middle of the umbelical, a Tumor
resembing a pretty broad
Belt, it takes its Rise on the left side of
the Linea aba & extends
[Page 2]
to the os Illium. Tongue somewhat foul, mouth of a
Saltish Taste, Belly bound, urine small Quantities, Thirst
great, has many swelled glands along both sides of the neck, & Groins
appetite bad, sleep indifferent. Pulse more than in ordinary Health
I was calld on the 22d of January I ordred his Regimen as in
Dropsy & gave some of the strong diuretic medicines as Rad:
Raphan allium, sinops, Bal. Junip; but not with much
success - they ↑were↑ steept in white wine. Afterwards he was tried
with doses of cream Tart. , Nitre, squills at different Times
which diminished the swelling for a Time but on its increasing
he got Decoct. Senekæ which likewise abated the Tumor
of the abdomen by promoting some Degree of sweat & perspiration.
However after all, he became so distressed that he was obliged
to sit up during the night - In company with another
surgeon I went & visted him, & judging Tapping the only
Temporary Remedy, it was performed in the left side; we
got not above a Scots Chopin of water mixed with Blood
which coagulated in the canula & prevented often the Discharge
The Integuments were so very thick & perhaps the Blood came from
them, it was florid - The Patient was a strong man, but
[Page 3]
considerably weaker very ambitious to try any thing that
would promise success as he has a numerous Family – The
Bearer is to in town two or three Days & will call for
an answer which will very much; and I am with very
great Esteem
six miles straight west
from Kinross
March 15th 1780
PS the Patient was tapped yesterday
[Page 4]
Dr Cullen
Mint Close
Edinburgh
Mr J. Whyte concerning
a Dropsy
March 15. 1780.
To go on with his medicines
The Squills & Senekua
the most promising –
or may try –––
Diplomatic Text
As you was so condescending at last meeting, as
to promise advice in Cases of Difficulty, when laid before
you, which lays me under the greatest obligations to you, &
would be happy, if in my Power, to make a grateful Return
I have given you the Trouble of the following Case, & would be
greatly obliged for your Sentiments & advice upon it, which is
as follows ––– Andrew Flockhart aged fifty two, a Husband man
got a Bruise, by a carriage wheel, on
the Foot, which
swell'd & became
of a livid colour, which continued from octobr the 20th to January
the 22nd, 1780, the swelling for
some Time was considerably abated
& the Lividity went off but the
swelling returned, & was harder
than at the beginning – the Leg &
foot that escaped the Bruise
has swelled the greater than
the other, & advanced gradually to the
scrotum which is more than
usual & from thence to the Scorbiculus
cordis –– The Abdomen
was greatly extended especially in the Evening
& less in the morning. In the left side
there is considerable Degree of
Hardness from the Epigastric region to the Inguen,
and about
the middle of the umbelical, a Tumor
resembing a pretty broad
Belt, it takes its Rise on the left side of
the Linea aba & extends
[Page 2]
to the os Illium. Tongue somewhat foul, mouth of a
Saltish Taste, Belly bound, urine small Quantities, Thirst
great, has many swelled glands along both sides of the neck, & Groins
appetite bad, sleep indifferent. Pulse more than in ordinary Health
I was calld on the 22d of January I ordred his Regimen as in
Dropsy & gave some of the strong diuretic medicines as Rad:
Raphan allium, sinops, Bal. Junip; but not with much
success - they ↑were↑ steept in white wine. Afterwards he was tried
with doses of cream Tart. , Nitre, squills at different Times
which diminished the swelling for a Time but on its increasing
he got Decoct. Senekæ which likewise abated the Tumor
of the abdomen by promoting some Degree of sweat & perspiration.
However after all, he became so distressed that he was obliged
to sit up during the night - In company with another
surgeon I went & visted him, & judging Tapping the only
Temporary Remedy, it was performed in the left side; we
got not above a Scots Chopin of water mixed with Blood
which coagulated in the canula & prevented often the Discharge
The Integuments were so very thick & perhaps the Blood came from
them, it was florid - The Patient was a strong man, but
[Page 3]
considerably weaker very ambitious to try any thing that
would promise success as he has a numerous Family – The
Bearer is to in town two or three Days & will call for
an answer which will very much; and I am with very
great Esteem
six miles straight west
from Kinross
March 15th 1780
PS the Patient was tapped yesterday
[Page 4]
Dr Cullen
Mint Close
Edin-
Mr J. Whyte C.
a Dropsy
March 15. 1780.
To go on with his meds.
The Squills & Senekua
the most promising –
or may try –––
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