The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:1939] From: Mr Robert Watt ( of Wood End) / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Mr Robert Watt ( of Wood End) (Patient) / 29 October 1780 / (Incoming)
Letter from Robert Watt of Woodend concerning his own case. Watt gives full details of his diet when staying in Ayrshire - he mentions the river Doon - and apologies for the handwriting: 'I fear this Letter will not be so easy to read, but it is as firm as any thing Ive been able to write for a time'.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 4 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
[Page 3]
[Page 4]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 1939 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/1018 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Incoming |
| Date | 29 October 1780 |
| 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 Robert Watt of Woodend concerning his own case. Watt gives full details of his diet when staying in Ayrshire - he mentions the river Doon - and apologies for the handwriting: 'I fear this Letter will not be so easy to read, but it is as firm as any thing Ive been able to write for a time'. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | Yes |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1238] |
Case of Robert Watt of Woodend who has a urinary problem. |
5 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:700] | Author | Mr Robert Watt ( of Wood End) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Addressee | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:700] | Patient | Mr Robert Watt ( of Wood End) |
| [PERS ID:1150] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Mr Inglis |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
Places linked to this document
| Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Writing | Woodend | Aberfeldy | Mid Scotland | Scotland | Europe | certain |
| Destination of Letter | Cullen's House / Mint Close | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain |
| Mentioned / Other | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | certain | ||
| Place of Handstamp | Perth | Mid Scotland | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
I intended many times before now to have given you
the trouble of a Letter, but writing has generally been not so easy an
affair for some time , and I wished to be able to speak with some
certainty of the Situation of my health. Thank ↑God↑ I am ↑at↑ present, for
anything perceivable to me, in a very tollerable state, and have been so in
particular for these four or five weeks past or therby. Ive never felt
the smallest Symptom or remains of the ailment about the breast
or Lungs, and in that respect, for any thing I know, am as easy ↑& well↑ as
ever at any time in my life. - My streif or only fash 1 has ↑been↑ from the
Graveliest Complaints. These, with the hot weather and the jolting of
the Carriage, however cautiously managed, gave me a good deal of trouble
in my Journey here, tho divided into part of three days. This jaded me
somewhat which continued about me for Eight or ten days. And the
excessive sultry hot weather in August & beginning of september for
four or five weeks, bore rather hard upon me. Every attempt to ride
even in a creeping way, for two or three miles only, gave me alwise
uneasiness & inconvenience so that I was oblidged to refrain from
it, and even from greater walking in the heat of the day, as I observed
all these, besides passing a deal of [pouder?] sort of sand, which is alwise
particularly fashious, threw me into a sort of acrimonious hottish
temperature of body. My chief Exercise during that very hot weather
was walking gently about in a sautering way, from about seven to
Nine or so in the morning before breakfast and about the same space
after Tea or so towards the Evening. This I found very comfortable
and observed no hurt arising from it. After the great heat we
had ten or twelve days of rainy wettish weather about the midle of
September, and this proved also unfavourable;- But from the beginning
of October or so, the weather ↑tho sometimes blustering↑ turned dry & harder, in the main, with fine
[Page 2]
sun, and same time a little Chilness. Those things I've found answer
well with me, as indeed Ive observed ↑so↑ all my life, and for this month
past or so Ive felt myself in the main abundantly easy and
even something comfortable. very little of the powder sand apassing
and seldom; and never so much as to occasion much uneasiness
and in all that time I [mind?] only two larger gravel about the
size of one aple seed or so ↑or one of Cherry a little larger↑ but these gave me no sort of trouble whatever
My Exercise ↑for this period also↑ has just been a little easy walking, less or more as I found aggreable ,
and at any time a day that suited, chiefly the midle. Same ↑time↑ I got (as my overseer
mentioned when Strongly [urging?] ↑me↑ to the [Countary?], plenty of fresh Air from the Doon 2
howfar this was right in point of Exercise I cannot say. but it was very Con¬
venient & ready, and the Air comfortable to one's wish.
As to Diet, your sound & friendly directions I never lost sight ↑of↑ in the main
and same time I knew of no restraint. The very things recommended were
what came readiest in the way, and were my very choice. Excellent milk
fresh & warm from the Cow I had from at Breakfast & ↑at↑ and night, or any
time I've [choose?] - Ass milk too, thro the urging kindness of a particular friend,
I {illeg} those two months or so, from an ass lately colted, & very rich
The ordinary Greenthings in the Garden way I had as I chused - also
Geans, Currans & Gooseberrys, and Pears & Apples, all in their season
in the fullest abundance. The two later continue to make Standard
Articles at all times, and in various Shapes- The aples generally
baked & with milk - for any thing of meat at dinner. Chickens
& fouls from the Barn door were the Standard & ordinary Article
Alwise at hand. Sometimes I may have tasted a bitt of Mutton
or Beef, but never from desire, nor largely- for a [dainty?] I got
some ↑few↑ times a pigeon or a partrige, [nay even at a time?]
But still the Barndoor was the thing - As to Supper, a constant
article for these two months past or so, was a Bowl of Shearers
Sowens with some warm fresh milk from the Cow. These I im
imagined answered admirably. The diuretick effect was Stricking-
For Breakfast, I tried different things, but coud not give up the
ordinary Tea with plenty of fine milk. This made alwise so
[Page 3]
complacent ↑a↑ composing article that I coud not but think it a pity
if it shoud be of any hurt otherwise- The drink at meals
was almost constantly Sherry & Water or Lisbon- with a Glass
or so of the wine after dinner, and perhaps two at night
Sometimes I tasted a Glass of small beer or so, tho seldom and
never a full draught - also a few times a little Gin & water
not above a mutchkin [either?] time- This has been the [Round?]
of my living. - As to medicines, Ive used none whatever
except some of the Sleeping draught which Mr Ingles sent with me
and some few times the cooling powder draught when much
troubled with the powder sand, but even that, after taking to
the sowens. I seldom used any more - For ↑advice or↑ assistance
I called none, and thank God I perceived no {illeg} (↑material occasion↑), trust¬
ing to your Accurate directions aside me.
I {illeg} more need of many Apologies for breaking in so long on
your precious time, but I was very desirous to avail my self of the
indulgence you was so kind to allow ↑me↑, and I hope for your Excuese.
If matters continue as at present, I will probably be in Town in a
few weeks for a while of the winter atleast, and then can explain
any particulars more fully & distinctly - I fear this Letter will
not be so easy to read, but it is as firm as any thing Ive been
able to write for a time. A weakness still continues in my hands, [especially?]
at times / for it is not uniformly so/ tho very uncertain, and yet except in
writing I never perceive any other weakness- This alwise ↑perticularly↑ attends gravel pains.
I shall ↑now↑ only add my grateful thanks for your friendly attention to my
distress, and I ever am
The appearance of Winter is
now coming on, how that may answer
I cannot say, but [fixt?] no particular apprehensions
[Page 4]
To
Doctor Cullen
at his house Mint Closs
Edinburgh
Mr Watt of Woodend
October 1780
XI. p.43. 47. 122. 133
Diplomatic Text
I intended many times before now to have given you
the trouble of a Letter, but writing has generally been not so easy an
affair for some time , and I wished to be able to speak with some
certainty of the Situation of my health. Thank ↑God↑ I am ↑at↑ present, for
anything perceivable to me, in a very tollerable state, and have been so in
particular for these four or five weeks past or therby. Ive never felt
the smallest Symptom or remains of the ailment about the breast
or Lungs, and in that respect, for any thing I know, am as easy ↑& well↑ as
ever at any time in my life. - My streif or only fash 1 has ↑been↑ from the
Graveliest Complaints. These, with the hot weather and the jolting of
the Carriage, however cautiously managed, gave me a good deal of trouble
in my Journey here, tho divided into part of three days. This jaded me
somewhat which continued about me for Eight or ten days. And the
excessive sultry hot weather in August & beginning of september for
four or five weeks, bore rather hard upon me. Every attempt to ride
even in a creeping way, for two or three miles only, gave me alwise
uneasiness & inconvenience so that I was oblidged to refrain from
it, and even from greater walking in the heat of the day, as I observed
all these, besides passing a deal of [pouder?] sort of sand, which is alwise
particularly fashious, threw me into a sort of acrimonious hottish
temperature of body. My chief Exercise during that very hot weather
was walking gently about in a sautering way, from about seven to
Nine or so in the morning before breakfast and about the same space
after Tea or so towards the Evening. This I found very comfortable
and observed no hurt arising from it. After the great heat we
had ten or twelve days of rainy wettish weather about the midle of
September, and this proved also unfavourable;- But from the beginning
of October or so, the weather ↑tho sometimes blustering↑ turned dry & harder, in the main, with fine
[Page 2]
sun, and same time a little Chilness. Those things I've found answer
well with me, as indeed Ive observed ↑so↑ all my life, and for this month
past or so Ive felt myself in the main abundantly easy and
even something comfortable. very little of the powder sand apassing
and seldom; and never so much as to occasion much uneasiness
and in all that time I [mind?] only two larger gravel about the
size of one aple seed or so ↑or one of Cherry a little larger↑ but these gave me no sort of trouble qtever
My Exercise ↑for this period also↑ has just been a little easy walking, less or more as I found aggreable ,
and at any time a day that suited, chiefly the midle. Same ↑time↑ I got (as my overseer
mentioned when Strongly [urging?] ↑me↑ to the [Countary?], plenty of fresh Air from the Doon 2
howfar this was right in point of Exercise I cannot say. but it was very Con¬
venient & ready, and the Air comfortable to one's wish.
As to Diet, your sound & friendly directions I never lost sight ↑of↑ in the main
and same time I knew of no restraint. The very things recommended were
what came readiest in the way, and were my very choice. Excellent milk
fresh & warm from the Cow I had from at Breakfast & ↑at↑ and night, or any
time I've [choose?] - Ass milk too, thro the urging kindness of a particular friend,
I {illeg} those two months or so, from an ass lately colted, & very rich
The ordinary Greenthings in the Garden way I had as I chused - also
Geans, Currans & Gooseberrys, and Pears & Apples, all in their season
in the fullest abundance. The two later continue to make Standard
Articles at all times, and in various Shapes- The aples generally
baked & with milk - for any thing of meat at dinner. Chickens
& fouls from the Barn door were the Standard & ordinary Article
Alwise at hand. Sometimes I may have tasted a bitt of Mutton
or Beef, but never from desire, nor largely- for a [dainty?] I got
some ↑few↑ times a pigeon or a partrige, [nay even at a time?]
But still the Barndoor was the thing - As to Supper, a constant
article for these two months past or so, was a Bowl of Shearers
Sowens with some warm fresh milk from the Cow. These I im
imagined answered admirably. The diuretick effect was Stricking-
For Breakfast, I tried different things, but coud not give up the
ordinary Tea with plenty of fine milk. This made alwise so
[Page 3]
complacent ↑a↑ composing article that I coud not but think it a pity
if it shoud be of any hurt otherwise- The drink at meals
was almost constantly Sherry & Water or Lisbon- with a Glass
or so of the wine after dinner, and perhaps two at night
Sometimes I tasted a Glass of small beer or so, tho seldom and
never a full draught - also a few times a little Gin & water
not above a mutchkin [either?] time- This has been the [Round?]
of my living. - As to medicines, Ive used none whatever
except some of the Sleeping draught which Mr Ingles sent with me
and some few times the cooling powder draught when much
troubled with the powder sand, but even that, after taking to
the sowens. I seldom used any more - For ↑advice or↑ assistance
I called none, and thank God I perceived no {illeg} (↑material occasion↑), trust¬
ing to your Accurate directions aside me.
I {illeg} more need of many Apologies for breaking in so long on
your precious time, but I was very desirous to avail my self of the
indulgence you was so kind to allow ↑me↑, and I hope for your Excuese.
If matters continue as at present, I will probably be in Town in a
few weeks for a while of the winter atleast, and then can explain
any particulars more fully & distinctly - I fear this Letter will
not be so easy to read, but it is as firm as any thing Ive been
able to write for a time. A weakness still continues in my hands, [especially?]
at times / for it is not uniformly so/ tho very uncertain, and yet except in
writing I never perceive any other weakness- This alwise ↑perticularly↑ attends gravel pains.
I shall ↑now↑ only add my grateful thanks for your friendly attention to my
distress, and I ever am
The appearance of Winter is
now coming on, how that may answer
I cannot say, but [fixt?] no particular apprehensions
[Page 4]
To
Doctor Cullen
at his house Mint Closs
Edinburgh
Mr Watt of Woodend
Octr 1780
XI. p.43. 47. 122. 133
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