The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:4168] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: [ADDRESSEE UNKNOWN] / Regarding: Captain Stewart (Patient) / 10 October 1777 / (Outgoing)
Reply 'For Captain Stewart', whose case is complicated by an ague. No incoming letter traced. Addressee unidentified. Addressee unidentified but likely Robert Wood (ID: 101) judging from other documents in the case.
- 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 | 4168 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/10/25 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 10 October 1777 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Scribal copy ( includes Casebook Entry) |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | Yes |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply 'For Captain Stewart', whose case is complicated by an ague. No incoming letter traced. Addressee unidentified. Addressee unidentified but likely Robert Wood (ID: 101) judging from other documents in the case. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:913] |
Case of Captain Stewart, who has an ague in 1777, and then consults Cullen again in 1781 when he is suffering from fits of the gout. |
3 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:2140] | Patient | Captain Stewart |
| [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 |
Normalized Text
For Captain Stewart.
The complication he labours under makes the manage¬
ment of his case a little difficult. It is my opinion that he
should not take much pains to stop his ague, as it is not dan¬
gerous & will probably cease of itself in this Country. ---
In the mean time I've ordered a medicine on ↑a↑ paper apart
which I hope will keep his ague moderate & easy. This
medicine may be taken at any time, when the ague
threatens to be troublesome, & it may be taken during the
time of intermissions for a fortnight at one time. It will
be particularly proper for him to take it for a fortnight
at the end of December. I think it is of more consequence for
Captn Stewart to guard against the returns of the throwing
up of blood, & this is to be done chiefly by his manner of
living. Were it not for his being liable to the ague I would
advise him to abstain entirely from animal food, but
as on account of his aguethat would not be very safe, I am only
advise him to take it sparingly, taking it only at
dinner & taking only of the lighter kinds. - I would say
the same of his drink. All kinds of strong drink are
in danger of irritating his stomach, but he has pro¬
bably been in the habit of taking a little wine every
day & in respect of his ague it would be dangerous to lay it aside
[Page 2]
This therefore must not be done. & I advise him to take
two or three glasses of claret or of Port diluted with water
but he must on no account go any farther.
In exercise he must be very cautious. -- Walking
except in the gentlest manner is very bad for him.
Hard riding would still be much worse. & therefore if
he has occasion to travel, it must be in a Carriage,
the easiest & smoothest he can get. ----
When the ague is not upon him, he ought to be fre¬
quently in the fresh air providing he can guard
sufficiently against cold & wet. He should always be
warmly cloathed, & a flannel shirt next his skin is
absolutely necessary for him. When Captain Stewart is
within doors he should guard against being very
warm - chambers either heated by fire or by much
company. ---- Besides these articles of management
I have few medicines to recommend to him. He
should continue the Elixir of Vitriol, & I have but
one other medicine to propose, and I have prescribed
it on the paper apart. It is a powder of which he is to
take a dose every day an hour before dinner. ---
This medicine I consider as suited both to the ague and
the state of the Stomach, and it may be continued for
three or four weeks. ----
Edinburgh 10th. October
1777
William Cullen
[Page 3]
For Captn. Stewart
Take half an ounce of Peruvian Bark powder and add spring water in a sufficient quantity in order to create a semiliquid mass. Into a mortar of glass or stone, you will diligently crush this for an hour. Then add up to one pound of spring water. Place it into a flagon and macerate, shaking it often, for twelve hours. Then add two drachms of Spritus vitrioli tenuis and two ounces of Peruvian Bark Tincture; strain using a paper. Label: Febrifuge Infusion, a small cupfull to be taken twice a day an hour before dinner and supper, except when somewhat of an ague fit is present.
Take half a drachm of powder of Bearberry leaves, five grains of Common madder's powder and five grains of vitriolated Tartar. Mix until a powder to divide into twelve doses. Label: Stomachic Powders. One to be taken in a little water an hour before dinner every day for a month.
Diplomatic Text
For Captain Stewart.
The complication he labours under makes ye manage¬
ment of his case a little difficult. It is my opinion that he
should not take much pains to stop his ague, as it is not dan¬
gerous & will probably cease of itself in this Country. ---
In the mean time I've ordered a medicine on ↑a↑ paper apart
wc I hope will keep his ague moderate & easy. This
medicine may be taken at any time, when the ague
threatens to be troublesome, & it may be taken during ye
time of intermissions for a fortnight at one time. It will
be particularly proper for him to take it for a fortnight
at ye end of Decr.. I think it is of more consequence for
Captn Stewart to guard against ye returns of the throwg.
up of blood, & this is to be done chiefly by his manner of
living. Were it not for his being liable to ye ague I wd
advise him to abstain entirely fm animal food, but
as on acct of his aguethat wd not be very safe, I am only
advise him to take it sparingly, taking it only at
dinner & taking only of ye lighter kinds. - I would say
ye same of his drink. All kinds of strong drink are
in danger of irritating his stomach, but he has pro¬
bably been in ye habit of taking a little wine every
day & in respect of his ague it wd be dangerous to lay it aside
[Page 2]
This therefore must not be done. & I advise him to take
two or three glasses of claret or of Port diluted wt water
but he must on no account go any farther.
In exercise he must be very cautious. -- Walking
except in the gentlest manner is very bad for him.
Hard riding wd still be much worse. & therefore if
he has occasion to travel, it must be in a Carriage,
ye easiest & smoothest he can get. ----
When ye ague is not upon him, he ought to be fre¬
quently in ye fresh air providing he can guard
sufficiently against cold & wet. He should always be
warmly cloathed, & a flannel shirt next his skin is
absolutely necessary for him. When C. Stewart is
within doors he should guard against being very
warm - chambers either heated by fire or by much
company. ---- Besides these articles of management
I have few medicines to recommend to him. He
should continue ye Elixir of Vitriol, & I have but
one other medicine to propose, and I have prescribed
it on ye paper apart. It is a powder of which he is to
take a dose every day an hour before dinner. ---
This medicine I consider as suited both to ye ague and
the state of the Stomach, and it may be continued for
three or four weeks. ----
Edinr 10th. Octr.
1777
William Cullen
[Page 3]
For Captn. Stewart
℞ pulv. cort. Peruvian. ℥ss
Aq. font. q. s. ut f. massa Semiliquida. Hanc in mortario vitreo
vel lapideo terito diligenter per horam dein adde aq. font. @ ℔ij. Repone in
lagena et macera subinde agitans per horas duodecim, dein adde Spir. vitriol.
ten. ʒij Tinct. cort. Peruvian. ℥ij denique per chartam cola.---
Sig. Febrifuge Infusion a small cupfull to be taken twice a day an hour
before dinner and Supper except when Somewhat of an ague fit is present.
℞ folior. uvæ ursi pulv. ʒss
rad. rub. tinctor. pulv.
Tartar. vitreolat. @ gr. v
ℳ. f. pulvis et fiant h.m. dos №xij Sig. Stomachic Powders one
to be taken in a little water an hour before dinner every day for a month.
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