The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[Case ID:1286]: Case of the Rev. Colin Gillies who has suffered several fainting fits almost like epileptic seizures.
Documents in this case
7 document(s) found in this case.
| DOC ID | Summary | Date | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
[DOC ID:2200] |
Letter from Alexander Taylor concerning the case of Rev. Mr Gillies, sent after hearing that 'an account of his case which I sent off for you, under cover to him at Glasgow, has not reached you. I have wrote to his father [the Minister of Blackfriars, Glasgow] to foreward it to you'. In case this, too, is lost, he sends the present account. He describes Mr Gillies's first fit, which 'had much the appearance of being Epileptic', and a second attack in Port Glasgow (treated by Alexander Mollison). He also describes eruptions on the nose and ear to which Mr Gillies has been subject in winter for some years. | 5 May 1782 | |||
[DOC ID:2211]  |
Letter from Alexander Taylor, concerning the case of Mr Gillies, a minister, who 'was a quarter of a year ago suddenly seized with a severe faint which lasted for more than ten minutes', and then with a second attack when in Port Glasgow for a preaching engagement. He was treated there by Alexander Mollison. He has also been subject to cold-related eruptions on the nose, ear and mouth. Taylor also reports on the progress of the Orr brothers and mentions reading Archibald Cullen's medical dissertation De Frigore, Ejusque Vi Et Effectibus in Corpus Humanum (see Doc ID 526). | 21 May 1782 | |||
|
[DOC ID:558] |
Reply 'For the Reverend Mr Colin Gillies', whose ailment Cullen does not believe life-threatening, but 'very liable to return and if it should do so frequently it may render his life uncomfortable as it may render him unfit for the duties of life'. Cullen recommends that the patient 'moderate his application to study', avoiding subjects which require 'intense and anxious attention'; gentle exercise, which can include 'moderate preaching'; and a diet in which he should 'live low'. | 27 May 1782 | |||
|
[DOC ID:572] |
Reply 'For Mr Gillies'. Cullen believes that his varied ailments all arise from a disorder of the nervous system, and gives lengthy directions to best remedy this. | 10 June 1782 | |||
|
[DOC ID:2233] |
Letter from Alexander Taylor, briefly noting that Mr Gillies is taking his medicines, and giving an account of the death and autopsy (post mortem) examination of a 22-year-old woman, a 'strong-made girl and of a chearful temper', whose disease 'had all the marks of the Angina Pectoris'. She had suffered from chest pains and faintness. He attributes her collapse to having been startled by a firework display, probably staged to celebrate Admiral Rodney's victory in the Battle of the Saintes, but her post mortem (by Taylor, Fulton and White) revealed carditis. | 12 June 1782 | |||
|
[DOC ID:4931] |
Reply concerning the case of the Revd. Mr. Gillies. Cullen is concerned at the continued recurrence of his ailment. He agrees that if the issue in the head is troublesome, a seton may be more effective, or an issue in the arm. | October? 1784? | |||
|
[DOC ID:2526] |
Letter from Alexander Taylor, concerning the case of Mr Gillies, who has had returns of his ailment. He finds the issue in his head inconvenient, and wonders if a seton in the neck or an issue in the arm would be better. | 9 October 1784 | |||
People involved in this case
13 found.
| PERS ID | Full Name |
|---|---|
| [PERS ID: 1902] | Miss |
| [PERS ID: 1] | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID: 545] | Dr Archibald Cullen (Ar or Arch) |
| [PERS ID: 2999] | Mr Fulton |
| [PERS ID: 1424] | Mrs Isabella Gillies |
| [PERS ID: 1465] | Reverend Colin Gillies (of Paisley) |
| [PERS ID: 1901] | Reverend John Gillies (of Blackfriars, Glasgow) |
| [PERS ID: 121] | Mr Alexander Mollison (Molison, Molyson) |
| [PERS ID: 210] | Mr James Orr |
| [PERS ID: 211] | Mr William Orr ((later) of Ingliston, then Ralston) |
| [PERS ID: 2656] | Admiral George Brydges Rodney (Admiral Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney) |
| [PERS ID: 207] | Dr Alexander Taylor (Sanders) |
| [PERS ID: 3000] | Mr John White (Whytt) |
Unique Places linked to this Case
5 found.
| Type | Specific Place | Village/Town/City (aka) | Region | Country | Continent | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specific | Cullen's House / Mint Close | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain |
| Place | Paisley | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Place | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Place | Glasgow | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Place | Port Glasgow | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Places and role of place
9 found.
| Type | Role | Specific Place | Village/Town/City (aka) | Region | Country | Continent | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specific | Place of Writing | Cullen's House / Mint Close | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain |
| Place | Place of Writing | Paisley | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Place | Destination of Letter | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Place | Destination of Letter | Paisley | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | inferred | |
| Place | Mentioned / Other | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Place | Mentioned / Other | Glasgow | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Place | Mentioned / Other | Port Glasgow | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Place | Place of Handstamp | Glasgow | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Place | Place of Handstamp | Paisley | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | certain |
