The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:541] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: [ADDRESSEE UNKNOWN] / Regarding: [A matter not directly regarding a patient] / May? 1782? / (Outgoing)
Letter 'For Mr Charles Gordons Children'. Cullen says they 'have so much the appearance of health, that I think nothing can be done to mend it', but since 'the very best can be spoiled' he gives recommendations to ensure their good health continues - 'I see very few Parents who are sufficiently on their gaurd [sic.] in this respect'. The greatest fault of parents, as Cullen sees it, is indulgence, and his recommendations are largely concerned with dietary restrictions.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 8 images for this document.
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Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 541 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/15/25 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | May? 1782? |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Machine copy |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Letter 'For Mr Charles Gordons Children'. Cullen says they 'have so much the appearance of health, that I think nothing can be done to mend it', but since 'the very best can be spoiled' he gives recommendations to ensure their good health continues - 'I see very few Parents who are sufficiently on their gaurd [sic.] in this respect'. The greatest fault of parents, as Cullen sees it, is indulgence, and his recommendations are largely concerned with dietary restrictions. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1513] |
Case of the children of Charles Gordon who are currently healthy, but must not be over-indulged. |
1 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:1129] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Mr Charles Gordon |
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
For Mr Charles Gordons Children
These Children have so much the
appearance of health, that I think nothing
can be done to mend it; but I think the very
best can be spoiled and I see very few Parents
who are sufficiently on their gaurd in this
respect.
The great and capital fault in Parents
is indulgence. Children are very bad judges
of what is proper for them and if they get
whatever they ask, their health must often
suffer, but children with a little pains and
steadiness on the part of their parents can be
rendered absolutely obsequious. It will at
first occasion some crying, but crying does
[Page 2]
not do much harm, and when they find
it does not procure them what they ask, they
will soon cease to repeat it.
This preface seems to be necessary, because
I am not to say, what is to be given; but what
is to be refused. We may readily err in the
former, but are very little liable to it in the
latter.
I am of opinion, that Children till they
are ten years old should have very little ani¬
mal food. Soon after they are weaned, they
may have every day at dinner some weak
broth, teaching them to take always some
bread along with it. But I would not give
them any solid meat either flesh or fish till
they are seven years old. Besides their butter
and bread they may have twice a week a fresh
boiled Egg with a little bread and butter; and
on other days they may have a light bread
[Page 3]
or rice pudding, a pancake, potatoes or some
other garden things that are in season.
Fruit quite ripe and in small quantity
are allowable.
For breakfast and sugar Children should
have some kind of milk meat. I am positively
of opinion, that Tea in every degree of it is
hurtful, but I must own that when taken
very weak the harm that it can do is very
little and therefore I can have no objection
to their having a very weak tea with their
bread in the Afternoons, but I must also add
that much warm water and especially where
drank very warm cannot be proper for children.
When I say that children are to live very
much upon milk meats, I mean a food of milk
and grain and what is made of it. I hold
Oatmeal to be as nourishing as wholesome
and as little [heating?] as any kind of grain
[Page 4]
and therefore I would propose no change in
the long established practice of Scotland, with
respect to children in ordinary health --
There may indeed be children whose stomachs
are weaker and may not digest Oatmeal
very well and in such cases I hold well lea¬
vened and well baked wheaten bread to be
safest of anything of the grain kind; and is
what at all times may be freely allowed
them. All kinds of buttered bread are very bad.
With respect to all kind of milk meats
I would have it observed, that the milk
should never be boiled with the grain; but
that the grain should be well boiled in water
by itself, and the water being well separated
the milk warmed near to boiling, should
be poured upon the grain.
Tho much sugar is not proper for children
[Page 5]
yet milk in every shape digests the better
for some sugar added to it.
Rich Cream is not proper for children
but with Strawberries or other fruit a
little cream with milk is very allowable
Buttermilk from milk not long kept
and still fresh may be frequently allowed
to children
Fresh drawn cow milk whey during the
summer season may be given freely to children, but
never much at one time.
Butter in moderate quantity with
bread is a very proper part of childrens diet
diet and may be frequently allowed. --
Cheese of any kind is hardly allowable
and should therefore be given always very
sparingly.
The only proper drink for children is plain
water but if they are at any time disposed
[Page 6]
to be costive they may have a little good
small beer or in the same case, instead,
of milk meat they may have a Berry
made of coarse wheaten bread with
small beer.
Wine of any kind I cannot think to be
necessary to children, but in very small quantity
they may be allowed to taste of any kind that
happens to be present.
Some sugar as I have said above and even
some part of sweetmeats may be allowed to
children, but any indulgence either in the one or
other is certainly very hurtful and I know of
nothing more hurtful either to the health or
morals of children than to turn off their pee¬
vishness or perversity by a present of sweetmeat.
Besides a proper Diet nothing contributes
so much to their health as being much in the
[Page 7]
fresh air and after they are five years old, per¬
haps before that, they should be accustomed to
be moderately clothed and to bear every state of
the weather hot or cold moist or dry and be
allowed to take very much their own course in
exercise. They may indeed be sometimes affec¬
ted with cold or moisture and on such occasions
it may be very proper to keep them from up
a little from both cold and exercise till the
effects of the cold contracted are pretty much gone.
Children the younger they are may be
the more indulged in sleep and generally as they
grow up, they of themselves lessen their sleep
but not always in the best way, as they incline
to sit up at night and lie in the morning and
both these tendencies should be carefully avoi¬
ded and opposed
The above directions are intended
[Page 8]
chiefly for children under seven or eight
years old, for when they get to that age and
especially as they advance farther they may in
most respects to be allowed a greater latitude.
Diplomatic Text
For Mr Charles Gordons Children
These Children have so much the
appearance of health, that I think nothing
can be done to mend it; but I think the very
best can be spoiled and I see very few Parents
who are sufficiently on their gaurd in this
respect.
The great and capital fault in Parents
is indulgence. Children are very bad judges
of what is proper for them and if they get
whatever they ask, their health must often
suffer, but children with a little pains and
steadiness on the part of their parents can be
rendered absolutely obsequious. It will at
first occasion some crying, but crying does
[Page 2]
not do much harm, and when they find
it does not procure them what they ask, they
will soon cease to repeat it.
This preface seems to be necessary, because
I am not to say, what is to be given; but what
is to be refused. We may readily err in the
former, but are very little liable to it in the
latter.
I am of opinion, that Children till they
are ten years old should have very little ani¬
mal food. Soon after they are weaned, they
may have every day at dinner some weak
broth, teaching them to take always some
bread along with it. But I would not give
them any solid meat either flesh or fish till
they are seven years old. Besides their butter
and bread they may have twice a week a fresh
boiled Egg with a little bread and butter; and
on other days they may have a light bread
[Page 3]
or rice pudding, a pancake, potatoes or some
other garden things that are in season.
Fruit quite ripe and in small quantity
are allowable.
For breakfast and sugar Children should
have some kind of milk meat. I am positively
of opinion, that Tea in every degree of it is
hurtful, but I must own that when taken
very weak the harm that it can do is very
little and therefore I can have no objection
to their having a very weak tea with their
bread in the Afternoons, but I must also add
that much warm water and especially where
drank very warm cannot be proper for children.
When I say that children are to live very
much upon milk meats, I mean a food of milk
and grain and what is made of it. I hold
Oatmeal to be as nourishing as wholesome
and as little [heating?] as any kind of grain
[Page 4]
and therefore I would propose no change in
the long established practice of Scotland, with
respect to children in ordinary health --
There may indeed be children whose stomachs
are weaker and may not digest Oatmeal
very well and in such cases I hold well lea¬
vened and well baked wheaten bread to be
safest of anything of the grain kind; and is
what at all times may be freely allowed
them. All kinds of buttered bread are very bad.
With respect to all kind of milk meats
I would have it observed, that the milk
should never be boiled with the grain; but
that the grain should be well boiled in water
by itself, and the water being well separated
the milk warmed near to boiling, should
be poured upon the grain.
Tho much sugar is not proper for children
[Page 5]
yet milk in every shape digests the better
for some sugar added to it.
Rich Cream is not proper for children
but with Strawberries or other fruit a
little cream with milk is very allowable
Buttermilk from milk not long kept
and still fresh may be frequently allowed
to children
Fresh drawn cow milk whey during the
summer season may be given freely to children, but
never much at one time.
Butter in moderate quantity with
bread is a very proper part of childrens diet
diet and may be frequently allowed. --
Cheese of any kind is hardly allowable
and should therefore be given always very
sparingly.
The only proper drink for children is plain
water but if they are at any time disposed
[Page 6]
to be costive they may have a little good
small beer or in the same case, instead,
of milk meat they may have a Berry
made of coarse wheaten bread with
small beer.
Wine of any kind I cannot think to be
necessary to children, but in very small quantity
they may be allowed to taste of any kind that
happens to be present.
Some sugar as I have said above and even
some part of sweetmeats may be allowed to
children, but any indulgence either in the one or
other is certainly very hurtful and I know of
nothing more hurtful either to the health or
morals of children than to turn off their pee¬
vishness or perversity by a present of sweetmeat.
Besides a proper Diet nothing contributes
so much to their health as being much in the
[Page 7]
fresh air and after they are five years old, per¬
haps before that, they should be accustomed to
be moderately clothed and to bear every state of
the weather hot or cold moist or dry and be
allowed to take very much their own course in
exercise. They may indeed be sometimes affec¬
ted with cold or moisture and on such occasions
it may be very proper to keep them from up
a little from both cold and exercise till the
effects of the cold contracted are pretty much gone.
Children the younger they are may be
the more indulged in sleep and generally as they
grow up, they of themselves lessen their sleep
but not always in the best way, as they incline
to sit up at night and lie in the morning and
both these tendencies should be carefully avoi¬
ded and opposed
The above directions are intended
[Page 8]
chiefly for children under seven or eight
years old, for when they get to that age and
especially as they advance farther they may in
most respects to be allowed a greater latitude.
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