Cullen

The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh

 

[ID:4768] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Dr Alexander Bannerman / Regarding: Mr George Gordon (Patient) / 10 January 1784 / (Outgoing)

Reply concerning the case of Mr George Gordon, in which Cullen also passes on his compliments to 'my old pupil Dr Skene'.

Facsimile

There are 4 images for this document.

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Metadata

FieldData
DOC ID 4768
RCPE Catalogue Number CUL/1/1/16/172
Main Language English
Document Direction Outgoing
Date10 January 1784
Annotation None
TypeMachine copy
Enclosure(s) No enclosure(s)
Autopsy No
Recipe No
Regimen No
Letter of Introduction No
Case Note No
Summary Reply concerning the case of Mr George Gordon, in which Cullen also passes on his compliments to 'my old pupil Dr Skene'.
Manuscript Incomplete? No
Evidence of Commercial Posting No

Case

Cases that this document belongs to:

Case ID Description Num Docs
[Case ID:1589]
Case of George Gordon who suffers from rheumatic pains and colic which may be the gout.
4


People linked to this document

Person IDRole in documentPerson
[PERS ID:1]AuthorDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:3456]AddresseeDr Alexander Bannerman
[PERS ID:4094]PatientMr George Gordon
[PERS ID:64]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr George Skene
[PERS ID:3456]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr Alexander Bannerman
[PERS ID:1]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr 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 Aberdeen East Highlands Scotland Europe inferred

Normalized Text

[Page 1]
Mr Geo: Gordon
Sir


I was favoured with your last night but too
late to answer it in course. I have now attenpted to (↑tively↑)
considered Mr. Gordon's case and shall be glad
to give you any assistance in it.


I have formerly been of opinion that all
pains of the extremities which alternated with
affections of the internal parts were to be considered
as Gouty and that by this mark especially Gout
and Rheumatism were to be distinguished from
one another but upon several occasions I have
been led to doubt of the universality of this position.
I have now met with several instances of what
while it appeared in the extremities I concluded from
every circumstance of Age, Sex, symptoms and
remedies to be truly Rheumatic but found the
same by cold bathing, blistering and even rubi¬



[Page 2]

facients
to be translated to the Alimentary Canal
and I am very much disposed to think that the case
you give me is another instance of the same kind
of disease though I will be no means say that
the translation of it has been owing to any im¬
proper even accidentally improper management.


Though I have thus given you my opinion
of the disease I own myself much at a loss in
ascertaining the nature of the affection in the
Alimentary Canal or in directing the Cure of it
and this letter cannot admitt of a discussion
of the doubts and difficulties which have for¬
merly occurred to me and do in a stronger
manner now. Mr. Gordons case has so far
advanced as to preclude us from remedies I
might have thought of before. The state of his
stomach though you do not speak clearly



[Page 3]

about it is evidently much in our way and I am
afraid the febrile state now come on is still much
more so but we must do as well as we can.


I must suppose that the frequency & violence of
pain will not allow you to ommitt the use of Opium
and I cannot propose it but you must obviate some
of it by the very diligent use of glysters
to which I would advise the joining some good
Asafoetida both as laxative and Antispasmodic.
After what you have told me I cannot propose
purgatives but there is a medicine which
I have found to me the best Carminative laxa¬
tive
I have known and if his stomach and
fever will admitt of it I would still propose
This is a solution of good Gum Guaiac. Let it
be well diffused by being first rubbed with
Sugar and then well triturated with yolk
of Egg
and let it be thrown in small



[Page 4]

portions as the Stomach and fever bear it. Where we are
so much precluded from internal medicines we must
be more busy in seeking external and I am of opinion
that both fomentations and blistering may be useful
to Mr. Gordon and both of these remedies may be
applied sometimes to the lower extremities and some¬
times to the belly itself which I leave to your and
Dr. Skenes good judgement and discretion. Please
present my respectful and affectionate Compliments
to my Old Pupil Dr. Skene and believe me to be
with the utmost regard

your most Obedient humble servant

Edinburgh 10th. January
1784
William Cullen -

Diplomatic Text

[Page 1]
Mr Geo: Gordon
Sir


I was favoured with your last night but too
late to answer it in course. I have now attenpted to (↑tively↑)
considered Mr. Gordon's case and shall be glad
to give you any assistance in it.


I have formerly been of opinion that all
pains of the extremities which alternated with
affections of the internal parts were to be considered
as Gouty and that by this mark especially Gout
and Rheumatism were to be distinguished from
one another but upon several occasions I have
been led to doubt of the universality of this position.
I have now met with several instances of what
while it appeared in the extremities I concluded from
every circumstance of Age, Sex, symptoms and
remedies to be truly Rheumatic but found the
same by cold bathing, blistering and even rubi¬



[Page 2]

facients
to be translated to the Alimentary Canal
and I am very much disposed to think that the case
you give me is another instance of the same kind
of disease though I will be no means say that
the translation of it has been owing to any im¬
proper even accidentally improper management.


Though I have thus given you my opinion
of the disease I own myself much at a loss in
ascertaining the nature of the affection in the
Alimentary Canal or in directing the Cure of it
and this letter cannot admitt of a discussion
of the doubts and difficulties which have for¬
merly occurred to me and do in a stronger
manner now. Mr. Gordons case has so far
advanced as to preclude us from remedies I
might have thought of before. The state of his
stomach though you do not speak clearly



[Page 3]

about it is evidently much in our way and I am
afraid the febrile state now come on is still much
more so but we must do as well as we can.


I must suppose that the frequency & violence of
pain will not allow you to ommitt the use of Opium
and I cannot propose it but you must obviate some
of it by the very diligent use of glysters
to which I would advise the joining some good
Asafoetida both as laxative and Antispasmodic.
After what you have told me I cannot propose
purgatives but there is a medicine which
I have found to me the best Carminative laxa¬
tive
I have known and if his stomach and
fever will admitt of it I would still propose
This is a solution of good Gum Guaiac. Let it
be well diffused by being first rubbed with
Sugar and then well triturated with yolk
of Egg
and let it be thrown in small



[Page 4]

portions as the Stomach and fever bear it. Where we are
so much precluded from internal medicines we must
be more busy in seeking external and I am of opinion
that both fomentations and blistering may be useful
to Mr. Gordon and both of these remedies may be
applied sometimes to the lower extremities and some¬
times to the belly itself which I leave to your and
Dr. Skenes good judgement and discretion. Please
present my respectful and affectionate Compliments
to my Old Pupil Dr. Skene and believe me to be
with the utmost regard

your most Obedient humble servant

Edinr. 10th. Janry.
1784
William Cullen -

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