The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:119] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: [ADDRESSEE UNKNOWN] / Regarding: Mr William Lindsay (Patient) / 12 April 1781 / (Outgoing)
Reply to Mr Lindsay's physician, recommending Lindsay takes a 'sea voyage to his Native Country of Orkney', along with recommendations for blistering, riding, sailing and drinking mare's milk.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 5 images for this document.
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[Page 5]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 119 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/14/8 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 12 April 1781 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Machine copy |
| Enclosure(s) | Enclosure(s) present |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | Yes |
| Regimen | Yes |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply to Mr Lindsay's physician, recommending Lindsay takes a 'sea voyage to his Native Country of Orkney', along with recommendations for blistering, riding, sailing and drinking mare's milk. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1392] |
Case of Mr Lindsay who is advised on taking a sea voyage to his native Orkney. |
1 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:79] | Patient | Mr William Lindsay |
| [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 |
| Therapeutic Recommendation | Orkneys | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
For Mr William Lindsay
Tho Mr Lindsays ailments have not yet
advanced to any considerable degree, they are such
as I think immediately require every precaution
that can be taken to prevent their going further.
The first measure I would propose is his immedia¬
tely taking a Sea Voyage to his Native Country of
Orkney, and he cannot pass the Summer in any other
Country with so much advantage and safety as there
When he is at home, he should immediately
take to riding on horseback, and in easy riding
he should pass the most part of every forenoon that
is tolerably fair.
If he can pass the same time ↑or more↑ tolerably defended
from the Cold in sailing in an open Boat, it may
answer the same purpose as riding.
In every situation; he must give great atten¬
[Page 2]
tion to avoiding cold and wet in every shape,
and for this purpose even through the whole of Summer
he should wear a flannel shirt next his Skin and
be otherwise uniformly well clothed and particular¬
ly in his feet and legs.
In Diet, he should take entirely to Milk and
Grain, avoiding on the one hand entirely all kind
of Animal food, and on the other hand taking but spa¬
ringly of Roots and Green - His Drink should
be entirely of Water or Watery Liquors, as fresh
drawn Whey, Water Gruel or Barley Water.
If he can easily as I suppose he may, get
Mares Milk he may take half a Mutchkin of
it, every morning, and if his Stomach bears it
easily he may take as much more towards the
Evening. He may commonly take his Mares Milk
early in the Morning, and take a Sleep after
it providing that in that Sleep, he does not sweat
[Page 3]
very much, but if he does, he should delay taking
the Milk till he is ready to get out of bed.
If upon his Voyage he is sick and Vomits he
may be the better for it; but if he does not and after
that he is at home, he shall have any complaint of
want of appetite or indigestion, he should then or at
least before he begins the use of the Mares Milk
take a gentle Vomit of Ipecacuanha.
If his present disposition to Costiveness should
continue, he must take care never to let it go too
far, without taking some gentle Laxative;
as, a little Cream of Tartar, in a large Draught of
Cow milk Whey, or an Aloetic Pill, or what is per¬
haps better, a tea spoonful or two of Flowers of Sulphur
with Honey if his Stomach bears the later. If his
stomach will bear the Castor Oil as ordered on the
Paper apart, he may find it one of the most conve¬
nient Laxatives.
If his Cough and breathlessness should at any
[Page 4]
time increase very much, let him apply a Blister
and keep a part of it open as a Perpetual Issue.
But if at the same time he has any pain in his
side, let the Blister be applied to the pained part
or to the part, that has been lately pained; but if
no such pain directs the application, let it be app¬
lied to the ordinary place between the Shoulders.
I am clearly of opinion, that Mr Lindsays reco¬
very must depend upon the Management above
directed, and that internal Medicines can be of little
Service; but I have prescribed one on the Paper
apart which I hope may be of some service to
him. If I was to advise any other it would be
the fresh expressed Juice of Tussilago Leaves,
taken in what quantity his Stomach easily
bears.
Edinburgh April 12th
1781
[Page 5]
For Mr William Lindsay
Take three ounces of [fresh?] castor Oil and one ounce of Daffy's Elixir. Mix. Label: Laxative Oil. Half a table spoonful more or less to be taken in the morming when occasion requires, shaking the Phial always very well, before pouring it out.
Take three drachms of liquorice Extract. Cut into small pieces and scatter in a sufficient quantity of boiling water. Mix and bruise into a pulp and add one ounce of ground, powdered Myrrh and with a sufficient quantity of boiling water to let a mass be made and divide into single pills of five grains. Label: Pectoral Pills to be taken every night at bedtime.
Diplomatic Text
For Mr William Lindsay
Tho Mr Lindsays ailments have not yet
advanced to any considerable degree, they are such
as I think immediately require every precaution
that can be taken to prevent their going further.
The first measure I would propose is his immedia¬
tely taking a Sea Voyage to his Native Country of
Orkney, and he cannot pass the Summer in any other
Country with so much advantage and safety as there
When he is at home, he should immediately
take to riding on horseback, and in easy riding
he should pass the most part of every forenoon that
is tolerably fair.
If he can pass the same time ↑or more↑ tolerably defended
from the Cold in sailing in an open Boat, it may
answer the same purpose as riding.
In every situation; he must give great atten¬
[Page 2]
tion to avoiding cold and wet in every shape,
and for this purpose even through the whole of Summer
he should wear a flannel shirt next his Skin and
be otherwise uniformly well clothed and particular¬
ly in his feet and legs.
In Diet, he should take entirely to Milk and
Grain, avoiding on the one hand entirely all kind
of Animal food, and on the other hand taking but spa¬
ringly of Roots and Green - His Drink should
be entirely of Water or Watery Liquors, as fresh
drawn Whey, Water Gruel or Barley Water.
If he can easily as I suppose he may, get
Mares Milk he may take half a Mutchkin of
it, every morning, and if his Stomach bears it
easily he may take as much more towards the
Evening. He may commonly take his Mares Milk
early in the Morning, and take a Sleep after
it providing that in that Sleep, he does not sweat
[Page 3]
very much, but if he does, he should delay taking
the Milk till he is ready to get out of bed.
If upon his Voyage he is sick and Vomits he
may be the better for it; but if he does not and after
that he is at home, he shall have any complaint of
want of appetite or indigestion, he should then or at
least before he begins the use of the Mares Milk
take a gentle Vomit of Ipecacuanha.
If his present disposition to Costiveness should
continue, he must take care never to let it go too
far, without taking some gentle Laxative;
as, a little Cream of Tartar, in a large Draught of
Cow milk Whey, or an Aloetic Pill, or what is per¬
haps better, a tea spoonful or two of Flowers of Sulphur
with Honey if his Stomach bears the later. If his
stomach will bear the Castor Oil as ordered on the
Paper apart, he may find it one of the most conve¬
nient Laxatives.
If his Cough and breathlessness should at any
[Page 4]
time increase very much, let him apply a Blister
and keep a part of it open as a Perpetual Issue.
But if at the same time he has any pain in his
side, let the Blister be applied to the pained part
or to the part, that has been lately pained; but if
no such pain directs the application, let it be app¬
lied to the ordinary place between the Shoulders.
I am clearly of opinion, that Mr Lindsays reco¬
very must depend upon the Management above
directed, and that internal Medicines can be of little
Service; but I have prescribed one on the Paper
apart which I hope may be of some service to
him. If I was to advise any other it would be
the fresh expressed Juice of Tussilago Leaves,
taken in what quantity his Stomach easily
bears.
Edinr April 12th
1781
[Page 5]
For Mr William Lindsay
℞ Ol. ricini [recent.?] ℥iij
Tinct. senn. compt ℥j
ℳ. Sig. Laxative Oil. half a table spoonful
more or less to be taken in the morning when
occasion requires, shaking the Phial always
very well, before pouring it out.
℞ Extract. glycyrrhiz. ʒiij
In frustula minuta consciso, affunde
Aq. fervent. q.s. ut mollescat et pulpam
contundatur cui adde
Myrrh. in pulv. trit. ʒj
et cum Aq. fervent. q.s. ut fiat Massa
divid. in pil. sing. gr. v.
Sig. Pectoral Pills to be taken every night
at bedtime.
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