Cullen

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

 

[ID:1123] From: Mr Thomas Duncanson / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Captain Thomas Fraser (Frazer) (Patient) / 22 February 1775 / (Incoming)

Letter from Thomas Duncanson regarding the case of Captain [Thomas] Fraser, who he first reported to Cullen in 1767, and who consulted Cullen in person at Edinburgh in 1770 [no relevant letters traced]. Since last August Fraser has taken to his bed with what may be partly imagined ailments, but has recently developed a fever. Duncanson explains that his own bad health has obliged him to dictate this letter, but he adds a note at the end himself.

Facsimile

There are 4 images for this document.

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Metadata

FieldData
DOC ID 1123
RCPE Catalogue Number CUL/1/2/224
Main Language English
Document Direction Incoming
Date22 February 1775
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 Letter from Thomas Duncanson regarding the case of Captain [Thomas] Fraser, who he first reported to Cullen in 1767, and who consulted Cullen in person at Edinburgh in 1770 [no relevant letters traced]. Since last August Fraser has taken to his bed with what may be partly imagined ailments, but has recently developed a fever. Duncanson explains that his own bad health has obliged him to dictate this letter, but he adds a note at the end himself.
Manuscript Incomplete? No
Evidence of Commercial Posting Yes

Case

Cases that this document belongs to:

Case ID Description Num Docs
[Case ID:185]
Case of Captain Thomas Fraser [Frazer] who now has a fever having long taken to his bed after a long history of real and, possibly imagined, complaints.
5


People linked to this document

Person IDRole in documentPerson
[PERS ID:1564]AuthorMr Thomas Duncanson
[PERS ID:1]AddresseeDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:1341]PatientCaptain Thomas Fraser (Frazer)
[PERS ID:1564]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryMr Thomas Duncanson
[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 Forres East Highlands Scotland Europe certain
Destination of Letter Edinburgh Edinburgh and East Scotland Europe certain

Normalized Text

[Page 1]
Dear Sir
Forres 22d February 1775


You will possibly recolect that some time
in January. 67. I consulted you about Capt. Fraser for an
Impostume in his Liver, which had broke before I had oc¬
casion to attend him, he got the better of that, and in about
three years after was at Edinburgh, when you will probably
remember to have seen him at your own house, he was al¬
wise a full man, of a Florid Complexion, and now aged
about 56. In February 72 he had a stated fever attended with
swellings in lower & uper extremities, which with the fever
Continued about a fortnight, but as I did not attend him at
that time, cannot make any particular account of his
case. Barring that fever, he has upon the whole enjoy¬
ed a pretty tolerable state of health since his recovery in
67.; tho indeed he has had frequent Complaints in his right
side
and stomach, being often subject to pains and swell¬
ings
in the former, which came and went occasionaly, but
seldom Continued above a few days at a time. For a Course of
years he has been in the Custom of not stirring out during
the winter Season, and a great part of the Spring, but since
some time last August he has never been in the open Air,
and for most part of that time kept his bed; tho seemingly
not in bad health, as he eat, drank & slept., prety much in
his usual manner, he had indeed several little Complaints,
which I believe were rather more imaginary than real,



[Page 2]

tho as to that, I cannot be so particular, being little about
him till eighteen days ago, that he found himself not well
and Continued drooping for a Couple of days, when he was seiz'd
with a smart keen fever, and for two days more rov'd & spoke
incoherently
, but after blooding he grew pretty sensible, the blood
was florid with very little Serum, the fever still Continues
sometimes pritty keen, frequently remits, but never intirely gon,
he sleeps a good deal, but seldom above half an hour, or an hour
at a time, & very little refresh'd, he has had several strong pro¬
fuse sweats
, which seldom Continued above three or four hours,
partly owing to his being restless, and not lying under the Cloaths,
he has been all along kept open in his Belly with mana &
Cream Tartar, and sometimes has had very severe brashes of
purging without any visible cause, and yet not weakn'd after
them, his pulse has been all along prety soft and equal, 'tho
frequently full
, but much less so for a week back, some days
ago we observed a riseing in the open of his side, extending from
the Groin towards the haunchbone, spreading along the Kidney
to the Vertebre of the back, but not higher up then the small
ribs
, without pain even when press'd, and seems rather in¬
creasing, he has likewise a weakness in all that thigh and
Leg, and a contraction in the Knee, so that he cannot extend it,
nor move his Leg & thigh. His tongue is foul, and drinks a
good deal, but Complains of no pain in his head. His Urine
is deep and turbid, and has been so all along without any sepa¬
ration. These are the outlines of his present Complaints, nor
have I time at present to be more particular, but as his much


[Page 3]

alarmed about his side, Leg, Knee, & thigh, I earnestly beg you will let me
hear from you in Course, but as the Post is going, I most Conclude on haste,


Dear Sir
most faithfully Yours
Thos. Duncanson


Two Guinea Notes are inclos'd.
Bad health is the cause of a borrowed hand 1


I 2 had forgot to mention that about a
Week ago he was distress'd with a
Short dry tickling Cough, but for some
days ↑back↑ has been Expectorating a good deal.
He has all along taken full as much
food, rather more indeed than he could
have been lookt for.




[Page 4]


To
Doctor Cullen
Edinburgh


Mr Duncanson
about Captn Fraser
Vol I[I?]. p.165.

Notes:

1: Duncanson means that his own bad health has obliged him to dictate this letter.

2: Duncanson adds this afterthought in his own hand (see note above).

Diplomatic Text

[Page 1]
Dear Sir
Forres 22d Febry 1775


You will possibly recolect that some time
in January. 67. I consulted you about Capt. Fraser for an
Impostume in his Liver, which had broke before I had oc¬
casion to attend him, he got the better of that, and in about
three years after was at Edinbr, when you will probably
remember to have seen him at your own house, he was al¬
wise a full man, of a Florid Complexion, and now aged
about 56. In Febry 72 he had a stated fever attended with
swellings in lower & uper extremities, which with the fever
Continued about a fortnight, but as I did not attend him at
that time, cannot make any particular account of his
case. Barring that fever, he has upon the whole enjoy¬
ed a pretty tolerable state of health since his recovery in
67.; tho indeed he has had frequent Complaints in his right
side
and stomach, being often subject to pains and swell¬
ings
in the former, which came and went occasionaly, but
seldom Continued above a few days at a time. For a Course of
years he has been in the Custom of not stirring out during
the winter Season, and a great part of the Spring, but since
some time last August he has never been in the open Air,
and for most part of that time kept his bed; tho seemingly
not in bad health, as he eat, drank & slept., prety much in
his usual manner, he had indeed several little Complaints,
which I believe were rather more imaginary than real,



[Page 2]

tho as to that, I cannot be so particular, being little about
him till eighteen days ago, that he found himself not well
and Continued drooping for a Couple of days, when he was seiz'd
with a smart keen fever, and for two days more rov'd & spoke
incoherently
, but after blooding he grew pretty sensible, the blood
was florid with very little Serum, the fever still Continues
sometimes pritty keen, frequently remits, but never intirely gon,
he sleeps a good deal, but seldom above half an hour, or an hour
at a time, & very little refresh'd, he has had several strong pro¬
fuse sweats
, which seldom Continued above three or four hours,
partly owing to his being restless, and not lying under the Cloaths,
he has been all along kept open in his Belly with mana &
Cream Tartar, and sometimes has had very severe brashes of
purging without any visible cause, and yet not weakn'd after
them, his pulse has been all along prety soft and equal, 'tho
frequently full
, but much less so for a week back, some days
ago we observed a riseing in the open of his side, extending from
the Groin towards the haunchbone, spreading along the Kidney
to the Vertebre of the back, but not higher up then the small
ribs
, without pain even when press'd, and seems rather in¬
creasing, he has likewise a weakness in all that thigh and
Leg, and a contraction in the Knee, so that he cannot extend it,
nor move his Leg & thigh. His tongue is foul, and drinks a
good deal, but Complains of no pain in his head. His Urine
is deep and turbid, and has been so all along without any sepa¬
ration. These are the outlines of his present Complaints, nor
have I time at present to be more particular, but as his much


[Page 3]

alarmed about his side, Leg, Knee, & thigh, I earnestly beg you will let me
hear from you in Course, but as the Post is going, I most Conclude on haste,


Dear Sir
most faithfully Yours
Thos. Duncanson


Two Guinea Notes are inclos'd.
Bad health is the cause of a borrowed hand 1


I 2 had forgot to mention that about a
Week ago he was distress'd with a
Short dry tickling Cough, but for some
days ↑back↑ has been Expectorating a good deal.
He has all along taken full as much
food, rather more indeed than he could
have been lookt for.




[Page 4]


To
Doctor Cullen
Edinburgh


Mr Duncanson
abt Captn Fraser
Vol I[I?]. p.165.

Notes:

1: Duncanson means that his own bad health has obliged him to dictate this letter.

2: Duncanson adds this afterthought in his own hand (see note above).

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