The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:908] Case Note / Regarding: Andrew Boyes (of Wellshall) (Patient) / 2 August 1774 / (Misc)
Case note by Dr John Cook addressed to Mr John Boyes Senior of Wellshall, relating the case of the addressee's son's disease, which began with an epileptic fit. Sent to Cullen under cover of ID:907, by John Boyes, where his son's name is given as Andrew.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 3 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
[Page 3]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 908 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/171b |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Misc |
| Date | 2 August 1774 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Authorial original |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | Yes |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Case note by Dr John Cook addressed to Mr John Boyes Senior of Wellshall, relating the case of the addressee's son's disease, which began with an epileptic fit. Sent to Cullen under cover of ID:907, by John Boyes, where his son's name is given as Andrew. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:143] |
Case of Andrew Boyes who suffers from 'fits'. |
2 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:425] | Author | Dr John Cook |
| [PERS ID:423] | Addressee | Mr John Boyes (of Wellhall) |
| [PERS ID:424] | Patient | Andrew Boyes (of Wellshall) |
| [PERS ID:425] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr John Cook |
| [PERS ID:423] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Mr John Boyes (of Wellhall) |
| [PERS ID:4950] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Dr Boyes |
Places linked to this document
| Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Writing | Alanshaw | Hamilton | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | certain |
| Mentioned / Other | Wellshall | Brent Eleigh | East | England | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
The following is nearly the state of your Son's disease
On the 9th September 1773 he was taken very ill with an Epileptick fit. He was
instantly lett blood & the day following the first passages were cleansed with
a gentle purge. At that time when he could speak he complained of an
oppression in his Breast & pain in the fore part of the head which continued
all that day. He is seized almost every morning with startings, but never
had a severe fit till the summer Equinox & was treated after the same manner
the pain in his head at these times continued about 48 hours. He says that
he has been troubled with these complaints about 4 years, that he is constantly
worse after any severe exercise, but has no other complaint, the nonnaturals
are all in good order. The startings attack him immediately after sleep, &
continue 8 or 10 minutes, after which time he has no complaint through the
day, & he keeps his bed for a short time after he wakes, tho he is sensible
of slights startings, yet they are not severe & he is easy through the length of
the day; whereas if he riseth instantly he can not stand, but has frequently
fallen, however he never loseth his understanding. If he has at any time
been overtaken with drink he was ever worse the day following. ------
After having caused him, as was said, to be bled and purged, I advised him
to use a vegetable diet, & take for breakfast & supper an infusion of valerian
with bisquit or toasted bread forbearing every thing of bad digestion, then
I prescribed the following.
Take one drachm of powder of Wild Valerian Root, one drachm of Zedoary, one and a half drachm of Russian Castor, one drachm of [juice of?]Volatile Salt of {illeg}, one drachm of Native Cinnabar, two drachms of Asafœtid Gum, two drachms of Gum of Sagapenum, and a sufficient quantity of Syrup of Buckthorn in order to obtain a mass of pills formed by pills of one drachm each, of which make twenty pills. Label: Two pills are to be taken every evening & three every morning observing a regular diet.
September 27 I ordered
Take two drachms of [powdered ??] and two drachms of prepared powder of Native Cinnabar. Mix and divide into twelve equal parts. Label: one powder to be taken every eight hour in a spoon of water Gruel.
October fourth this was repeated, the 7th. he took a dose of Rhubarb. The eight I
prescribed Flor Zinci gr. iv in Chel. Cancror: ppt. ʒij in six doses: one Powder to
be taken every morning. October 22 I increased the
dose to one gram of the Flor: Zinci: & continued the same the 22 of December,
when his Brother was in the Country he prepared some and increased the dose
[Page 2]
he has occasionally taken small doses of Rubarb & Mercurius dulcis to cleanse the
first passages, & destroy worms: but he never saw any worms: he was advised also
to use the cold bath and frictions. It is remarkable that he is seized ever
after sleep and at no other time; therefore it is submitted to others whither a
perpetual issue might not be adviseable. As I can not be certain whether
what I advised was strictly complyed with, or even if the medicines were
exactly prepared, & given, I submit to your consideration whether it would
not be for his advantage to send him to his Brother for some time, where
trials might be made without a possibility of mistakes, or want of care.
Sir
your most Obedient
Humble Servant
[Page 3]
To
Mr John Boyes Senior
of Wellshall
Diplomatic Text
The following is nearly the state of your Son's disease
On the 9th Sept.r 1773 he was taken very ill with an Epileptick fit. He was
instantly lett blood & the day following the first passages were cleansed with
a gentle purge. At that time when he could speak he complained of an
oppression in his Breast & pain in the fore part of the head which continued
all that day. He is seized almost every morning with startings, but never
had a severe fit till the summer Equinox & was treated after the same manner
the pain in his head at these times continued about 48 hours. He says that
he has been troubled with these complaints about 4 years, that he is constantly
worse after any severe exercise, but has no other complaint, the nonnaturals
are all in good order. The startings attack him immediately after sleep, &
continue 8 or 10 minutes, after which time he has no complaint through the
day, & he keeps his bed for a short time after he wakes, tho he is sensible
of slights startings, yet they are not severe & he is easy through the length of
the day; whereas if he riseth instantly he can not stand, but has frequently
fallen, however he never loseth his understanding. If he has at any time
been overtaken with drink he was ever worse the day following. ------
After having caused him, as was said, to be bled and purged, I advised him
to use a vegetable diet, & take for breakfast & supper an infusion of valerian
with bisquit or toasted bread forbearing every thing of bad digestion, then
I prescribed the following.
℞ Pulv: Rad: Valerian: Silvest: Zedoar: @ʒj
Castoris Rup: ʒjſs Sal. [succum?] Volat: ʒj. Cinnabar: Nativ: ʒj Gum:
Assafoetid: Sagapen: @ʒij Syr. Rhamno q.: s: ut fiat massa Pilularis
Ex singulis drachmis formentur Pil: viginti Sigt. Two pills are to be taken
every evening & three every morning observing a regular diet.
Septr. 27 I ordered
℞ [Pulv: de Guttala?] Cinnabar Nativ ppt. @ʒij Misce divide in Part: Equal: № xij
Sigt. one powder to be taken every eight hour in a spoonfull of water Gruel
Octr. fourth this was repeated, the 7th. he took a dose of Rhubarb. The eight I
prescribed Flor Zinci gr. iv in Chel. Cancror: ppt. ʒij in six doses: one Powder to
be taken every morning. Octr. 22 I increased the
dose to one gram of the Flor: Zinci: & continued the same the 22 of December,
when his Brother was in the Country he prepared some and increased the dose
[Page 2]
he has occasionally taken small doses of Rubarb & Merc: dulcis to cleanse the
first passages, & destroy worms: but he never saw any worms: he was advised also
to use the cold bath and frictions. It is remarkable that he is seized ever
after sleep and at no other time; therefore it is submitted to others whither a
perpetual issue might not be adviseable. As I can not be certain whether
what I advised was strictly complyed with, or even if the medicines were
exactly prepared, & given, I submit to your consideration whether it would
not be for his advantage to send him to his Brother for some time, where
trials might be made without a possibility of mistakes, or want of care.
Sir
your most Obed:t
Hu:le Serv.t
[Page 3]
To
Mr John Boyes Sen.r
of Wellshall
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