The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:678] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Miss Margaret Ferguson (Fergusson) / Regarding: Miss Margaret Ferguson (Fergusson) (Patient) / 29 November 1782 / (Outgoing)
Reply, for 'Miss M. Ferguson v. p. 28[2]'. Cullen advises Miss Ferguson on taking the medicines prescribed. A postscript adds 'Tho I have sent you the prescription as if you were to get the medicines at Dumfermline I believe it would be more secure for you to get them from Edinburgh'.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
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Facsimile
There are 4 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
[Page 3]
[Page 4]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 678 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/15/165 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 29 November 1782 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Machine copy |
| Enclosure(s) | Enclosure(s) present |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | Yes |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply, for 'Miss M. Ferguson v. p. 28[2]'. Cullen advises Miss Ferguson on taking the medicines prescribed. A postscript adds 'Tho I have sent you the prescription as if you were to get the medicines at Dumfermline I believe it would be more secure for you to get them from Edinburgh'. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1678] |
Case of Miss Margaret Ferguson who is being treated for an 'eruption' on her face for which she is employing an ointment and decoction. |
8 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:3340] | Addressee | Miss Margaret Ferguson (Fergusson) |
| [PERS ID:3340] | Patient | Miss Margaret Ferguson (Fergusson) |
| [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 | Dunfermline | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | inferred | |
| Mentioned / Other | Dunfermline | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Mentioned / Other | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
Miss M. Ferguson v. p. 28
Yours of the 23d came to me in due
course but I imputed the failure of my advice very much
to the weather and during the weather that prevailed [at?]
the beginning of this week I could not advise the use of
any remedy, but as Since last night there is the appearance
of milder weather I shall now give you my best advice.
In the inclosed paper I have prescribed Some pa¬
pers of materials which ↑you↑ may get and prepare a decoction
for your self in this manner: Take one of the papers
marked №. 1. and putting the materials contained in it
into an iron or well tinned copper pan pour upon them
a Scotch pint of Spring water. Let this boil over the
fire till one half of the water is boiled away or nearly so,
then put into it a paper of materials marked № 2. Let
them boil a minute or two and Strain the liquor through
a linnen cloth. Of this decoction you are to take in
divided draughts a muchkin every day. A fresh decoction
[Page 2]
is to be made every Second day and I have sent you as
many a prescription for as many materials as will serve
for a fortnight which if you can continue it for so long
will be ↑a↑ very proper trial of what it will do but you must
not take it at all unless the weather continues open & mild.
In the inclosed paper I have also given you a pre¬
scription for an ointment which you may employ after
you have taken the decoction for a week, and take care to
employ it precisely in this manner. Take the bigness
of a bean and anoint it on your forehead and on no other
part of your face, at bed time and not in the morning.
Do this for a second night and then for the third night
let it alone. On the fourth night take the same bulk
of ointment and anoint it on your two cheeks and do
this also for a second night and intermit for the third.
After that, go to your chin and anoint it for two nights.
I expect this will make Some change on the eruption
and if it does so but does not put it away entirely you
may again give your face another course in the very Same
[Page 3]
manner as above. But with regard to both courses please
observe that the ointment must not be applied in the time
of frosty weather and even in the time of mild and open
weather you must take care to avoid cold and therefore not
to be abroad in the morning or evenings and if you go
abroad when there is any fresh wind blowing you must take
care to cover your face from it as well as you can. I Shall
be glad in due time to know how this course Succeeds with
you and am
Madam your most obedient Servant
Edinburgh 29th November
1782.
Tho I have sent you the prescription as if you were
to get the medicines at Dumfermline I believe it would be
more Secure for you to get them from Edinburgh. --
[Page 4]
For Miss Fergusson
Take half an ounce of Raspings of guaiacum wood, one ounce of Root of Sarsaparilla {illeg} two drachms of Bark of Mezereon root Mix and let there be made Materials and let there be made seven papers. Label: Materials for Decoction Number 1.
Take two dachms of Sassafras Shavings one ounce of Liquorice root shavings one ounce of sweet fennel Seeds Mix and let there be made Materials and let there be made seven papers. Label: Materials for Decoction Number 2
Take half an ounce of Unguent citrin as per the 1756 Edinburgh Pharmacopoeia and one ounce of Lard. Blend together carefully to make a Liniment. Label: Discutient Ointment.
29 November
1782.
Diplomatic Text
Miss M. Ferguson v. p. 28
Yours of the 23d came to me in due
course but I imputed the failure of my advice very much
to the weather and during the weather that prevailed [at?]
the beginning of this week I could not advise the use of
any remedy, but as Since last night there is the appearance
of milder weather I shall now give you my best advice.
In the inclosed paper I have prescribed Some pa¬
pers of materials which ↑you↑ may get and prepare a decoction
for your self in this manner: Take one of the papers
marked №. 1. and putting the materials contained in it
into an iron or well tinned copper pan pour upon them
a Scotch pint of Spring water. Let this boil over the
fire till one half of the water is boiled away or nearly so,
then put into it a paper of materials marked № 2. Let
them boil a minute or two and Strain the liquor through
a linnen cloth. Of this decoction you are to take in
divided draughts a muchkin every day. A fresh decoction
[Page 2]
is to be made every Second day and I have sent you as
many a prescription for as many materials as will serve
for a fortnight which if you can continue it for so long
will be ↑a↑ very proper trial of what it will do but you must
not take it at all unless the weather continues open & mild.
In the inclosed paper I have also given you a pre¬
scription for an ointment which you may employ after
you have taken the decoction for a week, and take care to
employ it precisely in this manner. Take the bigness
of a bean and anoint it on your forehead and on no other
part of your face, at bed time and not in the morning.
Do this for a second night and then for the third night
let it alone. On the fourth night take the same bulk
of ointment and anoint it on your two cheeks and do
this also for a second night and intermit for the third.
After that, go to your chin and anoint it for two nights.
I expect this will make Some change on the eruption
and if it does so but does not put it away entirely you
may again give your face another course in the very Same
[Page 3]
manner as above. But with regard to both courses please
observe that the ointment must not be applied in the time
of frosty weather and even in the time of mild and open
weather you must take care to avoid cold and therefore not
to be abroad in the morning or evenings and if you go
abroad when there is any fresh wind blowing you must take
care to cover your face from it as well as you can. I Shall
be glad in due time to know how this course Succeeds with
you and am
Madam your most obedt Servant
Edr. 29th Novr
1782.
Tho I have sent you the prescription as if you were
to get the medicines at Dumfermline I believe it would be
more Secure for you to get them from Edinburgh. --
[Page 4]
For Miss Fergusson
℞ Scob. lign. guajaci ℥ſs
Rad. Sarsæ ℥j
Cort. rad. Mezerei ʒij
ℳ. f. Maa#lia et f. h. m. chart. № vij
Sig. Materials for Decoction №. 1
℞ Rasur. Sassafr. ʒij
Rad. glycyrrh. ras. ℥j
Sem. fœnical. dulc. ʒj
ℳ. f. Maa#lia et f. h. m. chart. № vij
Sig. Materials for Decoction №. 2.
℞ Ung. citrin. ph. Ed. 1756 ℥ſs.
Axung. porcin. ℥j
Terito Simul diligenter ut f. Linimentum
Sig. Discutient Ointment
29 Novr.
1782.
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