Cullen

The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh

 

[ID:1095] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Dr Robert Menzies (of Dura ) / Regarding: Mr Bruce (of Kinloch) (Patient) / 12 March 1781 / (Outgoing)

Reply, "Dr Menzies C. Mr Bruce"

Facsimile

There are 2 images for this document.

[Page 1]


 

[Page 2]


 
 

Metadata

FieldData
DOC ID 1095
RCPE Catalogue Number CUL/1/1/13/150
Main Language English
Document Direction Outgoing
Date12 March 1781
Annotation None
TypeScribal copy ( includes Casebook Entry)
Enclosure(s) No enclosure(s)
Autopsy No
Recipe No
Regimen No
Letter of Introduction No
Case Note No
Summary Reply, "Dr Menzies C. Mr Bruce"
Manuscript Incomplete? No
Evidence of Commercial Posting No

Case

Cases that this document belongs to:

Case ID Description Num Docs
[Case ID:1422]
Case of Mr Bruce of Kinloch an elderly gentleman who is emaciated with a whole range of pains, swellings and other symptoms for which he has recently been 'electrified'.
2


People linked to this document

Person IDRole in documentPerson
[PERS ID:1]AuthorDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:830]AddresseeDr Robert Menzies (of Dura )
[PERS ID:2801]PatientMr Bruce (of Kinloch)
[PERS ID:830]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr Robert Menzies (of Dura )
[PERS ID:2800]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryMr Macaulay (McAulay)
[PERS ID:1]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr 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 Kinloch Mid Scotland Scotland Europe inferred

Normalized Text

[Page 1]
Dr Menzies Concerning Mr Bruce.


From your account I can percieve some considerable faults in
Mr Bruces Constitution but no Specific Disease. You have been remarĀ¬
kably skilful and successful in adapting Remedies &c &c


I cannot be positive in saying what is at bottom here, but I
suspect Schirrosities of the Abdominal Viscera, and I have often
known these to have happened tho not discernible to the Touch.


I think it very necessary to be constant in avoiding costiveness
and I know nothing fitter than Castor Oil- and it may be rendered
more agreable to the Palate, lighter on the Stomach and more ready
in operating, by adding a fourth part of compound of Tincture of senna of
our last Dispensatory.
It is the same with Elixir Salutis ---


This however will not nor will his bowels admit of any Purgative
to obviate Anasarca and perhaps for that purpose Diuretics might
hardly be sage in a person formerly threatened with Diabetes.-


But I must say that if the Anasarca should increase, I should
think some Diuretics might be tried, and from this consideration
that Diabetes does not always depend upon an irritation nor
Laxity of the Kidnies, but upon a fault in the condition of the
fluids- If I was to propose a Diuretic- it would be Salt of Tartar
if there are any marks of acidity in the Stomach, and the Regenerated
Tartar
if there are no Marks of Acidity -- You are certainly
right in supporting Perspiration and your Pills are very well
suited for this purpose, but if you have occasion to change I
would advise the returning to the volatile Elixir of guaiac as well suited
to the whole of his Complaints- Upon the same ground




[Page 2]


I would recommend the Cicuta as a general Resolvent
Diaphoretic
and Anodyne Remedy. -- It may be tried
safely, tho it will not be necessary to push it far. --


For the Anxietas Tibiarum or Fidgets, I have found no
remedy, but Opiates internally, but I am much pleased with
your trial externally and shall be glad to kn know its effects
I should wish to give him as much exercise in a Carriage
as he can easily bear.-- With respect to Diet I leave it to your
discretion, but if anything occurs to me I shall mention it
to Mr Macaulay. - ---

March. 12. 1781.

Diplomatic Text

[Page 1]
Dr Menzies C Mr Bruce.


From your account I can percieve some considerable faults in
Mr Bruces Constitution but no Specific Disease. You have been remarĀ¬
kably skilful and successful in adapting Remedies &c &c


I cannot be positive in saying what is at bottom here, but I
suspect Schirrosities of the Abdominal Viscera, and I have often
known these to have happened tho not discernible to the Touch.


I think it very necessary to be constant in avoiding costiveness
and I know nothing fitter than Castor Oil- and it may be rendered
more agreable to the Palate, lighter on the Stomach and more ready
in operating, by adding a fourth part of Tinct senn. comp. of
our last Dispensatory.
It is the same with Elixir Salutis ---


This however will not nor will his bowels admit of any Purgative
to obviate Anasarca and perhaps for that purpose Diuretics might
hardly be sage in a person formerly threatened with Diabetes.-


But I must say that if the Anasarca should increase, I should
think some Diuretics might be tried, and from this consideration
that Diabetes does not always depend upon an irritation nor
Laxity of the Kidnies, but upon a fault in the condition of the
fluids- If I was to propose a Diuretic- it would be Salt of Tartar
if there are any marks of acidity in the Stomach, and the Regenerated
Tartar
if there are no Marks of Acidity -- You are certainly
right in supporting Perspiration and your Pills are very well
suited for this purpose, but if you have occasion to change I
would advise the returning to the Elix. guaiac. vol. as well suited
to the whole of his Complaints- Upon the same ground




[Page 2]


I would recommend the Cicuta as a general Resolvent
Diaphoretic
and Anodyne Remedy. -- It may be tried
safely, tho it will not be necessary to push it far. --


For the Anxietas Tibiarum or Fidgets, I have found no
remedy, but Opiates internally, but I am much pleased with
your trial externally and shall be glad to kn know its effects
I should wish to give him as much exercise in a Carriage
as he can easily bear.-- With respect to Diet I leave it to your
discretion, but if anything occurs to me I shall mention it
to Mr Macaulay. - ---

March. 12. 1781.

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