The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:4938] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Dr Colin Robertsone (Robertson) / Regarding: Reverend Archibald Stevenson (of St Madoes) (Patient) / 27 October 1784 / (Outgoing)
Reply, for 'Revd. Mr. Stevenson'. Cullen insists upon the application of the citrinum to treat Mr Stevenson's skin complaint, which he diagnoses as a 'Lepra Icthyosis'. Cullen suggests Robertsone consult Francois Boissier de Sauvage's 'Nosologia Methodica' (1763).
- 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 | 4938 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/17/132 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 27 October 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 'Revd. Mr. Stevenson'. Cullen insists upon the application of the citrinum to treat Mr Stevenson's skin complaint, which he diagnoses as a 'Lepra Icthyosis'. Cullen suggests Robertsone consult Francois Boissier de Sauvage's 'Nosologia Methodica' (1763). |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1691] |
Case of the Revd. Archibald Stevenson, who has an eruption all over his body stemming from an issue applied to his shoulders to treat his rheumatism in his neck and head. He subsequently becomes weak with a flux. |
9 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:2177] | Addressee | Dr Colin Robertsone (Robertson) |
| [PERS ID:3882] | Patient | Reverend Archibald Stevenson (of St Madoes) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:2177] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr Colin Robertsone (Robertson) |
| [PERS ID:1629] | Other Physician / Surgeon | Dr Francois Boissier de Sauvages de Lacroix (Sauvages, Sauvage) |
| [PERS ID:3883] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Mr James Stevenson |
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 | Perth | Mid Scotland | Scotland | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
Revd. Mr. Stevenson
I am favoured with yours and am heartily
concerned to find that Mr. Stevenson continues to be
so much distressed but as you have never yet tried
the Citrinum I do not despair of his relief and I must
give you some remarks upon the administration
of it. You must take care to have it exceedingly
well rubbed in a glass or Stone Mortar (not
Marble) with double its weight of Axungia Porci¬
na. In this condition I have found it less irrita¬
ting then the common Mercurial Ointment, than
any ointment mixed with precipitate or other
Mercurial and than even the saturnine ointment.
When you apply it ↑apply it↑ to a single member as the
Arm from the Elbow or the leg from the knee
downwards. Repeat such application once a day
[Page 2]
for three or four days and in that time {illeg}
clearly how far it gives an irritation that might prevent
its further application. At the same time you will
discern how far the disease is purely a a topical Cutaneous
affection for it is upon that supposition only that
I expect the Citrinum can be of use and it is indeed
in affections of that kind that I have found it
surprisingly effectual and I must still tell you
that the Citrinum does not seem like the common
Mercurial Ointment to be taken into the blood
for I have employed it in large quantities without
its showing any effects in the mouth but you may
proceed with the caution I have mentioned and as
soon as you have made any trials that can determine
your or my opinion I beg to hear from you for I am
very willing to take any trouble upon Mr. Stevensons
account. I take this disease to be the Lepra
[Page 3]
Icthyosis you may Consult Sauvages and the Authorities
he refers to though I will not promise you much satis¬
faction from them. I have myself met with many
instances of it and I have tried it with many different
remedies but never found any internal of much ser¬
vice and the only Cures I have made have been by
the Citrinum. After saying all this you will not be
surprised that I advise no internal
remedy at present nor say further
till I shall hear from you again. With
earnest good wishes for the Revd. Mr. Stevensons
relief and Compliments to his Brother I am with
very great regard
Sir
Your most Obedient Servant
Edinburgh 27th. October
1784
Diplomatic Text
Revd. Mr. Stevenson
I am favoured with yours and am heartily
concerned to find that Mr. Stevenson continues to be
so much distressed but as you have never yet tried
the Citrinum I do not despair of his relief and I must
give you some remarks upon the administration
of it. You must take care to have it exceedingly
well rubbed in a glass or Stone Mortar (not
Marble) with double its weight of Axungia Porci¬
na. In this condition I have found it less irrita¬
ting then the common Mercurial Ointment, than
any ointment mixed with precipitate or other
Mercurial and than even the saturnine ointment.
When you apply it ↑apply it↑ to a single member as the
Arm from the Elbow or the leg from the knee
downwards. Repeat such application once a day
[Page 2]
for three or four days and in that time {illeg}
clearly how far it gives an irritation that might prevent
its further application. At the same time you will
discern how far the disease is purely a a topical Cutaneous
affection for it is upon that supposition only that
I expect the Citrinum can be of use and it is indeed
in affections of that kind that I have found it
surprisingly effectual and I must still tell you
that the Citrinum does not seem like the common
Mercurial Ointment to be taken into the blood
for I have employed it in large quantities without
its showing any effects in the mouth but you may
proceed with the caution I have mentioned and as
soon as you have made any trials that can determine
your or my opinion I beg to hear from you for I am
very willing to take any trouble upon Mr. Stevensons
account. I take this disease to be the Lepra
[Page 3]
Icthyosis you may Consult Sauvages and the Authorities
he refers to though I will not promise you much satis¬
faction from them. I have myself met with many
instances of it and I have tried it with many different
remedies but never found any internal of much ser¬
vice and the only Cures I have made have been by
the Citrinum. After saying all this you will not be
surprised that I advise no internal
remedy at present nor say further
till I shall hear from you again. With
earnest good wishes for the Revd. Mr. Stevensons
relief and Compliments to his Brother I am with
very great regard
Sir
Your most Obedient Servant
Edinr. 27th. Octr.
1784
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