The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:5146] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: [ADDRESSEE UNKNOWN] / Regarding: Mr David Donald (Patient) / 17 September 1785 / (Outgoing)
Reply 'For Mr David Donald'
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 5 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
[Page 3]
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[Page 5]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 5146 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/18/128 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 17 September 1785 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Machine scribal copy |
| Enclosure(s) | Enclosure(s) present |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | Yes |
| Regimen | Yes |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply 'For Mr David Donald' |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1870] |
Case of David Donald who has a dangerous 'obstruction in his breast' for which he must avoid all damp. |
1 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:5702] | Patient | Mr David Donald |
| [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 |
| Therapeutic Recommendation | South Europe | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
For Mr. David Donald
Upon considering attentively the by past
history and present state of Complaints I am
of opinion that he labours under a considerable
obstruction in his breast which if not speedily
removed may have very dangerous consequences
and for this purpose no measures or precautions
are to be omitted.
As he is manifestly hurt by damp and
moisture he should take care to have a very
dry Lodging and that he should be very little
abroad in damp weather and particularly
in the Evening.
Exercise however is very necessary for [him?]
and as often as weather and business will
permit, he should take it for some hours
every day on horseback or in a Carriage and
it will be still better when he can make
[Page 2]
a days journey. Walking except in the most
gentle manner is very bad for him and he
must avoid as well as he can walking up hill
or up long Stair cases.
He must avoid much application to business
that requires his Sitting still and must
at least avoid Sitting long at one time.
In diet he must avoid all strong and
heavy meats. He may every day at dinner
take a little Animal food, but it should
be of the lighter kinds and also in very
[moderate?] quantity, filling up his meal
with Broth, light pudding and Vegetables,
All kinds of ripe fruit if they do not
occasion heartburn are very proper for him.
At Supper he must take no meat
nor even an Egg. If he digests milk easily
some kind of milk meat will be the
[Page 3]
most proper for him.
At Breakfast he must take no commo[n]
tea, but may take Cocoa, or a weak Chocolate
or if his Stomach will bear it, he may take
milk mixed with an equal part of water
gruel well Sweetened with Sugar.
In drinking he must take water only
for neither Malt liquors, Wine, or Spirits
are at all proper for him.
There is nothing more necessary for Mr.
Donald than his guarding against cold
and for this purpose with every other pre¬
caution he should wear flannel every where
next his Skin.
In the way of medicine I think there
is little to be done for him, but I have prescri¬
bed on the inclosed paper one that I hope may
be of Service to him.
By these measures I hope he shall
[Page 4]
get the better of his ailments, but they have
been tedious and may be still, and therefore
if against the middle or end of next month
they are not considerably relieved he should
immediately go to some of the Southern parts
of Europe and pass the winter there.
Edinburgh 17th. September
1785/
[Page 5]
For Mr. D. Donald
Take three ounces of the best Extract of Liquorice one drachm of the best Myrrh The Extracts are chopped into pieces, pour boiling water in an amount sufficient to soften the pulped softened and add the previously crushed Myrrh and add to the water and made smooth by rubbing and make a mass which can be divided into single pills each of five grains. Label: Pectoral pills two to be taken every night at bed time.
17th. September 1785/
Diplomatic Text
For Mr. David Donald
Upon considering attentively the by past
history and present state of Complaints I am
of opinion that he labours under a considerable
obstruction in his breast which if not speedily
removed may have very dangerous consequences
and for this purpose no measures or precautions
are to be omitted.
As he is manifestly hurt by damp and
moisture he should take care to have a very
dry Lodging and that he should be very little
abroad in damp weather and particularly
in the Evening.
Exercise however is very necessary for [him?]
and as often as weather and business will
permit, he should take it for some hours
every day on horseback or in a Carriage and
it will be still better when he can make
[Page 2]
a days journey. Walking except in the most
gentle manner is very bad for him and he
must avoid as well as he can walking up hill
or up long Stair cases.
He must avoid much application to business
that requires his Sitting still and must
at least avoid Sitting long at one time.
In diet he must avoid all strong and
heavy meats. He may every day at dinner
take a little Animal food, but it should
be of the lighter kinds and also in very
[moderate?] quantity, filling up his meal
with Broth, light pudding and Vegetables,
All kinds of ripe fruit if they do not
occasion heartburn are very proper for him.
At Supper he must take no meat
nor even an Egg. If he digests milk easily
some kind of milk meat will be the
[Page 3]
most proper for him.
At Breakfast he must take no commo[n]
tea, but may take Cocoa, or a weak Chocolate
or if his Stomach will bear it, he may take
milk mixed with an equal part of water
gruel well Sweetened with Sugar.
In drinking he must take water only
for neither Malt liquors, Wine, or Spirits
are at all proper for him.
There is nothing more necessary for Mr.
Donald than his guarding against cold
and for this purpose with every other pre¬
caution he should wear flannel every where
next his Skin.
In the way of medicine I think there
is little to be done for him, but I have prescri¬
bed on the inclosed paper one that I hope may
be of Service to him.
By these measures I hope he shall
[Page 4]
get the better of his ailments, but they have
been tedious and may be still, and therefore
if against the middle or end of next month
they are not considerably relieved he should
immediately go to some of the Southern parts
of Europe and pass the winter there.
Edinr. 17th. Septr.
1785/
[Page 5]
For Mr. D. Donald
℞ Extract glycyrrhiz. opt. ℥iij
Myrrh opt. ʒj
Extracts in frustu a conciss
affunde aquæ ferventis q. s.
ut mollescat et in pulpam
contundatur cui adde
Myrrham prius in pulverem
tenuem tritam et cum
aquæ q.s. ut f. massa divid.
in pil. Sig. gr. V
Sig. Pectoral pills two to
be taken every night at
bed time
17th. Septr. 1785/
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