The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:4948] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Mr Edward Brown / Regarding: Mr Edward Brown (Patient) / 22 November 1784 / (Outgoing)
Reply, for 'A. B. Perth'. From letters 2543 and 2544 it is inferred that the patient is Edward Brown. Cullen assures Brown there is 'nothing at least very little of the Venereal' in his complaints and further states, 'there is no danger of your giving infection in any communication you may think proper to have with the Sex'. Nevertheless, Cullen prescribes a liquor to flush out venereal taints and includes a recipe in English, in order Brown might understand it.
- 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 | 4948 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/17/142 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 22 November 1784 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Machine scribal copy |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | Yes |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply, for 'A. B. Perth'. From letters 2543 and 2544 it is inferred that the patient is Edward Brown. Cullen assures Brown there is 'nothing at least very little of the Venereal' in his complaints and further states, 'there is no danger of your giving infection in any communication you may think proper to have with the Sex'. Nevertheless, Cullen prescribes a liquor to flush out venereal taints and includes a recipe in English, in order Brown might understand it. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1722] |
Case of Edward Brown [anonymised to: 'A. B.'] of Perth who fears he has contracted a venereal infection after a drunken indiscretion. |
4 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:3490] | Addressee | Mr Edward Brown |
| [PERS ID:3490] | Patient | Mr Edward Brown |
| [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 | Perth | Mid Scotland | Scotland | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
A. B. Perth
By yours of yesterday I am fully confirmed
in what I suspected before that there is nothing
at least very little of the Venereal in your com¬
plaints and I am positive in assuring you that
there is no danger of your giving infection in any
communication you may think proper to have
with the Sex.
Although I think it proper to give you
the above opinion I shall further take care to re¬
move all doubts and fears that may in spite of
my opinion remain in your mind by giving you
a Prescription which is very effectual in
washing out any Venereal taint and can do no
harm to the Constitution though there were
no taint in it.
[Page 2]
Take of the Raspins of Guaiacum half an Ounce
Root of Sarsaparilla one Ounce
The Bark of the root of Mezereon One dram
Pour upon these two Chopins of Spring water and
in a Stewpan of Iron or of Copper very well
tinned boil the whole slowly till one half of
the water or nearly so is boiled away, then add
Of shavings of Sassafrass two drams
Of Liquorice Root shred in fibres One Ounce
Let the whole boil for a minute or two and then
strain it through a double ply of the table napkin
or other linnen but without any pressing of the
boiled materials. Cool the strained liquor very
quickly and put it up in a bottle to be well
corked.
Of this liquor you are to take a gill four
[Page 3]
times a day, that is, in the morning before breakfast
at Noon, at Seven in the Evening and at bedtime.
A Bottle will thus serve you for two days and you
are to continue to drink it for a fortnight but you
must prepare it fresh every two days and even
from one day to another keep the bottle in a cool
place.
I can answer for this washing out
every the smallest Venereal taint that
could be in your blood and if any pains
should remain after it you may depend upon
their being from another cause and to be treated
by other remedies.
Wishing you heartily relief and satisfaction
I am
Sir
Your most Obedient Servant
William Cullen --
Edinburgh 22nd. November
1784
Diplomatic Text
A. B. Perth
By yours of yesterday I am fully confirmed
in what I suspected before that there is nothing
at least very little of the Venereal in your com¬
plaints and I am positive in assuring you that
there is no danger of your giving infection in any
communication you may think proper to have
with the Sex.
Although I think it proper to give you
the above opinion I shall further take care to re¬
move all doubts and fears that may in spite of
my opinion remain in your mind by giving you
a Prescription which is very effectual in
washing out any Venereal taint and can do no
harm to the Constitution though there were
no taint in it.
[Page 2]
Take of the Raspins of Guaiacum half an Ounce
Root of Sarsaparilla one Ounce
The Bark of the root of Mezereon One dram
Pour upon these two Chopins of Spring water and
in a Stewpan of Iron or of Copper very well
tinned boil the whole slowly till one half of
the water or nearly so is boiled away, then add
Of shavings of Sassafrass two drams
Of Liquorice Root shred in fibres One Ounce
Let the whole boil for a minute or two and then
strain it through a double ply of the table napkin
or other linnen but without any pressing of the
boiled materials. Cool the strained liquor very
quickly and put it up in a bottle to be well
corked.
Of this liquor you are to take a gill four
[Page 3]
times a day, that is, in the morning before breakfast
at Noon, at Seven in the Evening and at bedtime.
A Bottle will thus serve you for two days and you
are to continue to drink it for a fortnight but you
must prepare it fresh every two days and even
from one day to another keep the bottle in a cool
place.
I can answer for this washing out
every the smallest Venereal taint that
could be in your blood and if any pains
should remain after it you may depend upon
their being from another cause and to be treated
by other remedies.
Wishing you heartily relief and satisfaction
I am
Sir
Your most Obedient Servant
William Cullen --
Edinr 22nd. Novr.
1784
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