Cullen

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

 

[ID:5053] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Dr Stuart / Regarding: Miss McKay (Patient) / 14 May 1785 / (Outgoing)

Reply, 'Dr Stuart C[oncerning] Miss McKay'

Facsimile

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Metadata

FieldData
DOC ID 5053
RCPE Catalogue Number CUL/1/1/18/36
Main Language English
Document Direction Outgoing
Date14 May 1785
Annotation None
TypeMachine scribal copy
Enclosure(s) No enclosure(s)
Autopsy No
Recipe No
Regimen No
Letter of Introduction No
Case Note No
Summary Reply, 'Dr Stuart C[oncerning] Miss McKay'
Manuscript Incomplete? No
Evidence of Commercial Posting No

Case

Cases that this document belongs to:

Case ID Description Num Docs
[Case ID:1828]
Case of Miss McKay who has shown all the signs of a consumption.
2


People linked to this document

Person IDRole in documentPerson
[PERS ID:1]AuthorDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:3811]AddresseeDr Stuart
[PERS ID:3812]PatientMiss McKay
[PERS ID:1]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:3811]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr Stuart
[PERS ID:3813]Patient's Relative / Spouse / FriendGeneral McKay
[PERS ID:3814]Patient's Relative / Spouse / FriendMrs McKay

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

[Page 1]

Dr. Stuart Concerning Miss McKay

Dear Sir,


I have again and again considered what
you have told me with respect to General
Mc.Kays opinion concerning his Nieces ailments
and think it proper for me now to give you
here in Writing my opinion upon the same
Subject.


I have the utmost respect for the General
Judgement and think he is well entitled to be
heard in a Case in which a most commendable
affection interests him so much.


I have no doubt that his Niece Miss
Mc.Kay has been formerly and may be at
present troubled with worms and I am again
clear that all the attention and pains that
we can possibly bestow and her circumstance



[Page 2]

admit of should be directed to that Object but
before I say what can be done upon that plan
I must observe that I have now Visited Miss
Mc.Kay several times and have at the same
time very patiently heard every thing that
Mrs. Mc.Kay and you have been pleased to tell
me concerning her by past Symptoms.


Upon the whole of this anxious investigation
I am very sorry to observe that Miss Mc.Kay
has for a good while past laboured under the
Symptoms of a coming on Consumption, Cough, bad
Spitting
, Hectic and morning Sweats are hardly
Ambiguous in such a Course. I will not say
that the Case is desperate, but the tendency
of it is strongly marked and the danger
is very great. I must further say that



[Page 3]

in the course of fifty years during which I have
been observing disease I can confidently assert
that I have never Seen one Case in which
the whole of those Symptoms arose from
worms alone. Some trouble may perhaps
arise from worms but in the present Case
the danger I think must arise entirely
from the disease of the lungs and I am
certain that General Mc.Kay when fully
apprized of all the circumstances would
think it very absurd that in this Case
we should have the worms solely in {illeg}
and neglect any ones [measure?] that might
be proper for obviating in {illeg}
progress of Consumption. It is with
great [pleasure?] that I might {illeg}


[Page 4]

yoar opinion of this Case has been {illeg}
founded and that your conduct has [been?]
as an anxious attention and the {illeg}
could suggest. I am indeed just now {illeg}
out a written advice for Miss M[c.Kay]
for the whole of her conduct as her {illeg}
desires but it is chiefly to Say over {illeg}
what you have already said after.


The greatest difficulty that {illeg}
is in the management with resp[ect] {illeg}
worms. I am to propose some med[icines]
of that kind {illeg}
{illeg} [prescribed tho' most?] {illeg}
{illeg} [Viz. mercury?] as far as it {illeg}
[possible?] {illeg} But I shall be {illeg}
{illeg} every [endeavour?] {illeg}



[Page 5]

that and every other circumstance that your
Anxiety and my attention can possible suggest.


You will please communicate as much
of this as you think proper to General
Mc.Kay and when you do so I beg you
will assure his Excellency of my utmost
respect for him and my particular regard
for every thing that can Serve him concern
him.


I am as always with great regard
Dear Doctor
your most Obedient Servant

William Cullen

Edinburgh 14th. May
1785

Diplomatic Text

[Page 1]

Dr. Stuart C. Miss McKay

Dear Sir,


I have again and again considered what
you have told me with respect to General
Mc.Kays opinion concerning his Nieces ailments
and think it proper for me now to give you
here in Writing my opinion upon the same
Subject.


I have the utmost respect for the General
Judgement and think he is well entitled to be
heard in a Case in which a most commendable
affection interests him so much.


I have no doubt that his Niece Miss
Mc.Kay has been formerly and may be at
present troubled with worms and I am again
clear that all the attention and pains that
we can possibly bestow and her circumstance



[Page 2]

admit of should be directed to that Object but
before I say what can be done upon that plan
I must observe that I have now Visited Miss
Mc.Kay several times and have at the same
time very patiently heard every thing that
Mrs. Mc.Kay and you have been pleased to tell
me concerning her by past Symptoms.


Upon the whole of this anxious investigation
I am very sorry to observe that Miss Mc.Kay
has for a good while past laboured under the
Symptoms of a coming on Consumption, Cough, bad
Spitting
, Hectic and morning Sweats are hardly
Ambiguous in such a Course. I will not say
that the Case is desperate, but the tendency
of it is strongly marked and the danger
is very great. I must further say that



[Page 3]

in the course of fifty years during which I have
been observing disease I can confidently assert
that I have never Seen one Case in which
the whole of those Symptoms arose from
worms alone. Some trouble may perhaps
arise from worms but in the present Case
the danger I think must arise entirely
from the disease of the lungs and I am
certain that General Mc.Kay when fully
apprized of all the circumstances would
think it very absurd that in this Case
we should have the worms solely in {illeg}
and neglect any ones [measure?] that might
be proper for obviating in {illeg}
progress of Consumption. It is with
great [pleasure?] that I might {illeg}


[Page 4]

yoar opinion of this Case has been {illeg}
founded and that your conduct has [been?]
as an anxious attention and the {illeg}
could suggest. I am indeed just now {illeg}
out a written advice for Miss M[c.Kay]
for the whole of her conduct as her {illeg}
desires but it is chiefly to Say over {illeg}
what you have already said after.


The greatest difficulty that {illeg}
is in the management with resp[ect] {illeg}
worms. I am to propose some med[icines]
of that kind {illeg}
{illeg} [prescribed tho' most?] {illeg}
{illeg} [Viz. mercury?] as far as it {illeg}
[possible?] {illeg} But I shall be {illeg}
{illeg} every [endeavour?] {illeg}



[Page 5]

that and every other circumstance that your
Anxiety and my attention can possible suggest.


You will please communicate as much
of this as you think proper to General
Mc.Kay and when you do so I beg you
will assure his Excellency of my utmost
respect for him and my particular regard
for every thing that can Serve him concern
him.


I am as always with great regard
Dear Dr.
your most Obedient Servant

William Cullen

Edinr. 14th. May
1785

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