The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:5425] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Dr / Regarding: Mrs Hamilton (Patient) / 20 March 1787 / (Outgoing)
Reply, 'For Mrs Hamilton of Wishaw'. To keep Mrs Hamilton's bowels firm, Cullen prescribes a recipe for a strengthening mixture, which is enclosed at the end of this letter. He also advises on diet and exercise.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 5 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
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[Page 5]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 5425 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/20/45 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 20 March 1787 |
| 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 Mrs Hamilton of Wishaw'. To keep Mrs Hamilton's bowels firm, Cullen prescribes a recipe for a strengthening mixture, which is enclosed at the end of this letter. He also advises on diet and exercise. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1866] |
Case of Mrs Hamilton of Wishaw who is thought to have no disease, just the effects of a 'nervous shock'. |
5 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:3630] | Addressee | Dr |
| [PERS ID:3624] | Patient | Mrs Hamilton |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:3630] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr |
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 | Wishaw | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | inferred | |
| Mentioned / Other | Wishaw | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
For M.rs Hamilton of Wishaw
After as much consideration and attention
as my health has allowed ↑I am of opinion that↑ though Mrs. Hamiltons
constitution is not in the condition I would wish
it, yet I apprehend no danger, and am very
confident the present complaints may be very
soon removed.
For keeping her bowels firm I have pre¬
scribed a strengthening medicine which I would
desire her to take a dose of twice every day for a
fortnight together.
While she is taking this medicine She may
lay aside, and even avoid the white mixture I
formerly prescribed, but if in spite of the new
medicine any Colic or purging should come on She
may take the white mixture as before, till the
disorder of the bowels shall be removed.
She may still continue to take the Anodyne
pills at bed time, but as soon as her bowels become
firmer and particularly that She can get into
[Page 2]
more exercise I would wish that these pills by
degrees should be laid aside, as they render the
Stomach weak and more liable to indigestion.
In the mean time some attention must be
given to her diet. She must avoid drinking ↑common↑ tea
and instead of it at Breakfast take a little
beef Tea, but that not very weak. In the
afternoon if She takes any Tea, it should be
little and very weak, and Bohea is safer than
green, and a little weak Coffee would be safer
than either of them.
At dinner she must avoid Broth with
barley and greens, but may properly take some
plain Soup not very strong, if possible with
some bread.
Her dinner should be always something
solid, but the lighter kinds are always to be
preferred, only for some time I would have her
take no kind of fish. The Meal may be filled
up with light bread pudding or a bit of Pancake
but she should take nothing from the garden,
[Page 3]
except it may be a bit of dry mealy Potatoe which
She may take along with any of her meat.
For ordinary drink she should take no kind
of Malt liquor, except it may be at sometimes
a little very good Porter. I think no kind of
wine very safe for her, but if She takes any it
should be Red Port, well diluted with water.
After dinner She should take two or three glasses
of Spirits and water, Rum or Brandy as she
likes best, and with or without Sugar, as most
to her taste.
At Supper if She digests Milk easily She
may take any kind of Milk meat she finds most
agreeable, but if these do not digest easily She may
take a bit of dry toast with a little Toddy, for to
take no Supper at all will not be so proper and
any thing from the Garden would be improper.
On the Subject of dinner I forgot above that
She is not to take any Salted or high Seasoned
thing.
Nothing will be of more service to Mrs. Hamilton
than a good deal of fresh air and exercise, and
[Page 4]
therefore if it can be convenient for her to be in
the Country I think it would be better for her to
be there than in Town. But wherever She is
she should take Exercise in a Carriage every day
that is tolerably fair. At the same time it is
to be observed, that Sitting long in a Carriage at
one time may increase the Swelling of her Ankle
and that coming out of the Carriage and taking
a little walk, wherever it can be conveniently
done will be of service, and at other times a
little walking, if it is not continued too long
may be very useful.
For the Swelling of her Ankle, her woman
should be provided with thick flannel gloves
for her hands, and with these gloves very well
warmed and put on, She should every morning
as Mrs. Hamilton lies abed rub from the toes
to th upwards to the knee for some minutes
but never rubbing downwards, and immediately
after the rubbing Mrs. Hamilton should put on
a strait worsted Stocking.
Edinburgh 20th. March
1787
[Page 5]
For Mrs. Hamilton of Wishaw
Take half an ounce of crushed Peruvian Bark, two drachms of Orange Peel, one drachm of Cinnamon and four ounces of French Brandy. After having let it infuse for one hour, pour in one pound of boiling water. Let it digest for twelve hours, and strain with a paper. Label: Stomachic infusion; three tablespoons to be taken an hour before dinner and Supper every day.
W.C.
20th. March
1787
Diplomatic Text
For M.rs Hamilton of Wishaw
After as much consideration and attention
as my health has allowed ↑I am of opinion that↑ though Mrs. Hamiltons
constitution is not in the condition I would wish
it, yet I apprehend no danger, and am very
confident the present complaints may be very
soon removed.
For keeping her bowels firm I have pre¬
scribed a strengthening medicine which I would
desire her to take a dose of twice every day for a
fortnight together.
While she is taking this medicine She may
lay aside, and even avoid the white mixture I
formerly prescribed, but if in spite of the new
medicine any Colic or purging should come on She
may take the white mixture as before, till the
disorder of the bowels shall be removed.
She may still continue to take the Anodyne
pills at bed time, but as soon as her bowels become
firmer and particularly that She can get into
[Page 2]
more exercise I would wish that these pills by
degrees should be laid aside, as they render the
Stomach weak and more liable to indigestion.
In the mean time some attention must be
given to her diet. She must avoid drinking ↑common↑ tea
and instead of it at Breakfast take a little
beef Tea, but that not very weak. In the
afternoon if She takes any Tea, it should be
little and very weak, and Bohea is safer than
green, and a little weak Coffee would be safer
than either of them.
At dinner she must avoid Broth with
barley and greens, but may properly take some
plain Soup not very strong, if possible with
some bread.
Her dinner should be always something
solid, but the lighter kinds are always to be
preferred, only for some time I would have her
take no kind of fish. The Meal may be filled
up with light bread pudding or a bit of Pancake
but she should take nothing from the garden,
[Page 3]
except it may be a bit of dry mealy Potatoe which
She may take along with any of her meat.
For ordinary drink she should take no kind
of Malt liquor, except it may be at sometimes
a little very good Porter. I think no kind of
wine very safe for her, but if She takes any it
should be Red Port, well diluted with water.
After dinner She should take two or three glasses
of Spirits and water, Rum or Brandy as she
likes best, and with or without Sugar, as most
to her taste.
At Supper if She digests Milk easily She
may take any kind of Milk meat she finds most
agreeable, but if these do not digest easily She may
take a bit of dry toast with a little Toddy, for to
take no Supper at all will not be so proper and
any thing from the Garden would be improper.
On the Subject of dinner I forgot above that
She is not to take any Salted or high Seasoned
thing.
Nothing will be of more service to Mrs. Hamilton
than a good deal of fresh air and exercise, and
[Page 4]
therefore if it can be convenient for her to be in
the Country I think it would be better for her to
be there than in Town. But wherever She is
she should take Exercise in a Carriage every day
that is tolerably fair. At the same time it is
to be observed, that Sitting long in a Carriage at
one time may increase the Swelling of her Ankle
and that coming out of the Carriage and taking
a little walk, wherever it can be conveniently
done will be of service, and at other times a
little walking, if it is not continued too long
may be very useful.
For the Swelling of her Ankle, her woman
should be provided with thick flannel gloves
for her hands, and with these gloves very well
warmed and put on, She should every morning
as Mrs. Hamilton lies abed rub from the toes
to th upwards to the knee for some minutes
but never rubbing downwards, and immediately
after the rubbing Mrs. Hamilton should put on
a strait worsted Stocking.
Edinr. 20th. March
1787
[Page 5]
For Mrs. Hamilton of Wishaw
℞ Cort. Peruv. trit. ℥fs
---- Aurant. ʒij
Cinnamom. ʒj
Sp. vin. Gall. ℥iv
Post infusionem per horam affunde
Aq. ferv. ℔j
Digere per horas duodecim et per chartam cola.
Sig. Stomachic infusion three table spoonfuls to
be taken an hour before dinner and Supper every
day
W.C.
20th. March
1787
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