The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:4861] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Mr Thomas Gordon (of Whitburn) / Regarding: Reverend Thomas Gordon (of Speymouth) (Patient) / 26 June 1784 / (Outgoing)
Reply, 'For the Revd. Mr. Gordon'. Cullen provides detailed management for the application of a blister to combat the effects of the patient's chest complaint, which Cullen describes as being of a spasmodic nature.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 2 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 4861 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/17/57 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 26 June 1784 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Machine scribal copy |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply, 'For the Revd. Mr. Gordon'. Cullen provides detailed management for the application of a blister to combat the effects of the patient's chest complaint, which Cullen describes as being of a spasmodic nature. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1704] |
Case of the Revd. Gordon who is very weak and distressed by an advanced chest condition for which he is prescribed Laudanam. |
8 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:2924] | Addressee | Mr Thomas Gordon (of Whitburn) |
| [PERS ID:2921] | Patient | Reverend Thomas Gordon (of Speymouth) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:2924] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Mr Thomas Gordon (of Whitburn) |
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 | Speymouth | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
For the Revd. Mr. Gordon
D[ear] {illeg}
I am heartly concerned for his late distress but I
am of opinion that it is of the same Spasmodic nature
as before. The blister ordered by Dr. Steven was very
proper but was not well managed as I suppose it
was allowed to lie on too long while much drinking of
proper liquids was not inculcated at the same time.
If the very oppressed breathing should recur in such
violent fits as Mr. Gordon describes I think little blood
should be taken from the Arm but it is by no means a
remedy I would wish to repeat unless the effects of a first
trial should appear very favourable.
Bleeding is certainly a proper remedy but unless
it can be managed more properly than before I will
not advise it for Mr. Gordon. Instead of blistering in
case of very difficult breathing I advise a plaister of made
Mustard to be applied to the breast about three inches
square. Let it be of Mustard that has been prepared
for the table at least a day or two old. It should be allowed
[Page 2]
to lie on for two days or longer if he can bear it to be on
it will probably blister but will give no Stranguary. It is
to be treated like a blister with wax plaister and though
it may keep open for some days it will need no other
application
Besides bleeding and blistering there is hardly
any other medicines to be proposed but the Æther formerly
advised and Laudanum if he can be brought to bear
it. I suspect the dose formerly employed to have
been too small at least nothing but a full dose is
likely to be of service.
Whether he takes Laudanum or not it is ab¬
solutely necessary that his belly be kept quite regular
either be laxatives or glysters.
If the pain above his haunch continues let a
small mustard plaister be applied upon the part.
William Cullen
Edinburgh 26th. June
1784
Diplomatic Text
For the Revd. Mr. Gordon
D[ear] {illeg}
I am heartly concerned for his late distress but I
am of opinion that it is of the same Spasmodic nature
as before. The blister ordered by Dr. Steven was very
proper but was not well managed as I suppose it
was allowed to lie on too long while much drinking of
proper liquids was not inculcated at the same time.
If the very oppressed breathing should recur in such
violent fits as Mr. Gordon describes I think little blood
should be taken from the Arm but it is by no means a
remedy I would wish to repeat unless the effects of a first
trial should appear very favourable.
Bleeding is certainly a proper remedy but unless
it can be managed more properly than before I will
not advise it for Mr. Gordon. Instead of blistering in
case of very difficult breathing I advise a plaister of made
Mustard to be applied to the breast about three inches
square. Let it be of Mustard that has been prepared
for the table at least a day or two old. It should be allowed
[Page 2]
to lie on for two days or longer if he can bear it to be on
it will probably blister but will give no Stranguary. It is
to be treated like a blister with wax plaister and though
it may keep open for some days it will need no other
application
Besides bleeding and blistering there is hardly
any other medicines to be proposed but the Æther formerly
advised and Laudanum if he can be brought to bear
it. I suspect the dose formerly employed to have
been too small at least nothing but a full dose is
likely to be of service.
Whether he takes Laudanum or not it is ab¬
solutely necessary that his belly be kept quite regular
either be laxatives or glysters.
If the pain above his haunch continues let a
small mustard plaister be applied upon the part.
William Cullen
Edinr. 26th. June
1784
XML
XML file not yet available.
Feedback
Send us specfic feeback about this document [DOC ID:4861]
Please note that the Cullen Project team have now disbanded but your comments will be logged in our system and we will look at them one day...
