The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:4152] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Mr B M Adamson / Regarding: Captain John Grey (Gray) (Patient) / 25 September 1777 / (Outgoing)
Reply to Mr Adamson concerning Captain Gray', who has severe dropsy. Cullen is wary of tapping, as it may prove fatal: 'if Dr Foster & you shall think otherways & to enter upon it with the prognostic of its either killing or curing & Capt. Grays taking it upon this footing I shall have no objection'. Otherwise he suggests cantharides as a diuretic or rubbing his belly with oil.
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Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 4152 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/10/9 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 25 September 1777 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Scribal copy ( includes Casebook Entry) |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply to Mr Adamson concerning Captain Gray', who has severe dropsy. Cullen is wary of tapping, as it may prove fatal: 'if Dr Foster & you shall think otherways & to enter upon it with the prognostic of its either killing or curing & Capt. Grays taking it upon this footing I shall have no objection'. Otherwise he suggests cantharides as a diuretic or rubbing his belly with oil. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:167] |
Case of Captain John Grey who is jaundiced and develops severe dropsy. |
7 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:1995] | Addressee | Mr B M Adamson |
| [PERS ID:1996] | Patient | Captain John Grey (Gray) |
| [PERS ID:24] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr Joseph Foster (Forster) |
| [PERS ID:1995] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Mr B M Adamson |
| [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 | Belford | North-East | England | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
To Mr. Adamson concerning Captain Gray
It would give me great pleasure to relieve the anxiety of Captain Grays friends, but
I am afraid it will be a very difficult if not an impossible task. I have no doubt that
there is now a great deal of water gathering in his belly & I think his condition otherways
will not admit of tapping for in such habites it is commonly a fatal remedy. However it
may be the only possible one & if Dr Foster & you shall think otherways & to enter upon it
with the prognostic of its either killing or curing & Captain Grays taking it upon this footing
I shall have no objection. In the mean time I shall be willing to do anything to obviate your
being in this perplexing situation & Diureticks are the most probably means. I know few
that answer better than the Alkaline Solution I prescribed before but I am informed that in
some cases the Cantharides has been found very effectual. You may begin with 20 drops of
the common tincture given twice a day & you may every day increase it by 5 drops till you find
it either effectual as a diaretick or threatening Strangury. In the first case you may continue
the doses found effectual but in the other you must lay it aside altogether. Besides these
remedies there is another worth trying & that is the rubbing the belly with oil. The proper
oil is prescribed below. With the fingers dipped in this oil the belly is to be rubbed all over
every morning. The friction should be very gentle but continued for at least half
an hour. if any of these advices can be of service to Captain Gray I shall be
very happy. I am &c.
Diplomatic Text
To Mr. Adamson concerning Captain Gray
It would give me great pleasure to relieve the anxiety of Cap.t Grays friends, but
I am afraid it will be a very difficult if not an impossible task. I have no doubt that
there is now a great deal of water gathering in his belly & I think his condition otherways
will not admit of tapping for in such habites it is commonly a fatal remedy. However it
may be the only possible one & if Dr Foster & you shall think otherways & to enter upon it
wt. ye prognostic of its either killing or curing & Capt. Grays taking it upon this footing
I shall have no objection. In the mean time I shall be willing to do anything to obviate your
being in this perplexing situation & Diureticks are the most probably means. I know few
that ansr. better than the Alkaline Solution I prescribed before but I am informed that in
some cases the Cantharides has been found very effectual. You may begin wt. 20 drops of
ye common tincture given twice a day & you may every day increase it by 5 drops till you find
it either effectual as a diaretick or threatening Strangury. In the first case you may continue
the doses found effectual but in the other you must lay it aside altogether. Besides these
remedies there is another worth trying & that is the rubbing the belly with oil. The proper
oil is prescribed below. With ye fingers dipped in this oil the belly is to be rubbed all over
every morning. The friction should be very gentle but continued for at least half
an hour. if any of these advices can be of service to Capt Gray I shall be
very happy. I am &c.
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