The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:207] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: [ADDRESSEE UNKNOWN] / Regarding: Mr William Leslie (Leslye) (Patient) / 27 October 1781 / (Outgoing)
Reply 'For Mr Leslie', regarding his toothache; Cullen does not think electricity will be of much use, but 'in obstinate cases we must sometimes try remedies at random'.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 3 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
[Page 3]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 207 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/14/93 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 27 October 1781 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Machine copy |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply 'For Mr Leslie', regarding his toothache; Cullen does not think electricity will be of much use, but 'in obstinate cases we must sometimes try remedies at random'. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:302] |
Case of Mr William Leslie who has had a locked jaw and pain in his left cheek. As he remarks, Leslie consulted Cullen for rheumatism back in 1774-5 (See Case:466). |
3 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:177] | Patient | Mr William Leslie (Leslye) |
| [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 | Cullen's House / Mint Close | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain |
| Destination of Letter | Banff (Bamf) | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
For Mr Leslie
Having now perused the full and exact history
of his complaint I am glad to perceive that the whole of
the ailment is in a train of recovery and tho it may yet
require some time I have no ↑doubt↑ of its being at length entirely
discussed. I formerly suspected carious teeth for being at
bottom of the whole complaint and tho now there is no
clear ground for such suspicion I must still by the way
advise Mr Leslie as soon as his mouth can be sufficiently
opened to have his teeth examined and if there are any re¬
markably spoiled to have them taken out.
To expede Mr Leslie's recovery from his present ail¬
ment I hope little more is necessary that to continue
the measures now employed and especially to guard against
cold and therfore to make no haste to be well. Of the
present applications the one I like best and which I think
will be most effectual is the anointing very gently but
very diligently two or three times a day with the campho¬
rated oil made pretty strong. I cannot now think that
[Page 2]
any of the lead or Saturnine preparations are necessary and I
doubt if in the present circumstances they are at all proper. As
long as any stiffness {illeg} hardness or contraction of the muscles of
the jaw or neck continue fomentations may be usefull but the
Camomile flowers boiled in wat plain water will be the best and if
these circumstances should still continue obstinate I would ad¬
vise a decoction of the leaves of Hemlock ↑as a fomentation↑ to be employed. The
fresh plant is not to be got now in any good condition but it is pos¬
sible that leaves powdered may be kept in the north as it is (↑they are↑) here
and a decoction of that powder may be employed.
I cannot think that the application of leeches can now be
necessary but if any fresh swelling or inflammation should come on
two or three leeches can do no harm.
I cannot either think that electricity is necessary and I
don't imagine that it is very well suited to the case but in obsti¬
nate cases we must sometimes try remedies at random and if the
rigidity of the jaw in this ↑Case↑ should appear very obstinate I should be
willing to try the electricity.
While any swelling and especially any degree of inflammation
[Page 3]
shall continue a dose of cooling salts cannot be improper.
I wonder a little that Mr Leslie has not told me
what had become of the sore from the suppuration. Pro¬
bably it was healed up very soon but I must say that if
it has ↑not↑ entirely healed up I would be in no haste to heal it as
its being kept open may be a means of taking down the
swelling and stiffness sooner.
Edinburgh 27th October
1781
Diplomatic Text
For Mr Leslie
Having now perused the full and exact history
of his complaint I am glad to perceive that the whole of
the ailment is in a train of recovery and tho it may yet
require some time I have no ↑doubt↑ of its being at length entirely
discussed. I formerly suspected carious teeth for being at
bottom of the whole complaint and tho now there is no
clear ground for such suspicion I must still by the way
advise Mr Leslie as soon as his mouth can be sufficiently
opened to have his teeth examined and if there are any re¬
markably spoiled to have them taken out.
To expede Mr Leslie's recovery from his present ail¬
ment I hope little more is necessary that to continue
the measures now employed and especially to guard agt
cold and therfore to make no haste to be well. Of the
present applications the one I like best and which I think
will be most effectual is the anointing very gently but
very diligently two or three times a day with the campho¬
rated oil made pretty strong. I cannot now think that
[Page 2]
any of the lead or Saturnine preparations are necessary and I
doubt if in the present circumstances they are at all proper. As
long as any stiffness {illeg} hardness or contraction of the muscles of
the jaw or neck continue fomentations may be usefull but the
Camomile flowers boiled in wat plain water will be the best and if
these circumstances should still continue obstinate I would ad¬
vise a decoction of the leaves of Hemlock ↑as a fomentation↑ to be employed. The
fresh plant is not to be got now in any good condition but it is pos¬
sible that leaves powdered may be kept in the north as it is (↑they are↑) here
and a decoction of that powder may be employed.
I cannot think that the application of leeches can now be
necessary but if any fresh swelling or inflammation should come on
two or three leeches can do no harm.
I cannot either think that electricity is necessary and I
don't imagine that it is very well suited to the case but in obsti¬
nate cases we must sometimes try remedies at random and if the
rigidity of the jaw in this ↑Case↑ should appear very obstinate I should be
willing to try the electricity.
While any swelling and especially any degree of inflammation
[Page 3]
shall continue a dose of cooling salts cannot be improper.
I wonder a little that Mr Leslie has not told me
what had become of the sore from the suppuration. Pro¬
bably it was healed up very soon but I must say that if
it has ↑not↑ entirely healed up I would be in no haste to heal it as
its being kept open may be a means of taking down the
swelling and stiffness sooner.
Edinr 27th Octor
1781
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