The Cullen Project | [ID:1262] From: Dr Alexander Stevenson (Professor; of Dalgairn ) / To: Dr Wood / Regarding: Mr John McDowall (McDoual) (Patient) / 1 April 1776 / (Incoming)

[ID:1262] From: Dr Alexander Stevenson (Professor; of Dalgairn ) / To: Dr Wood / Regarding: Mr John McDowall (McDoual) (Patient) / 1 April 1776 / (Incoming)

Letter from Dr Alexander Stevenson concerning the case of Mr McDowall, with a covering note by the patient.

Facsimile
Normalized Text
Diplomatic Text
Metadata
Case
People
Places

Facsimile

There are 4 images for this document.

[Page 1]

[Page 2]

[Page 3]

[Page 4]

Metadata

Field	Data
DOC ID	1262
RCPE Catalogue Number	CUL/1/2/362
Main Language	English
Document Direction	Incoming
Date	1 April 1776
Annotation	None
Type	Authorial original
Enclosure(s)	No enclosure(s)
Autopsy	No
Recipe	No
Regimen	No
Letter of Introduction	No
Case Note	No
Summary	Letter from Dr Alexander Stevenson concerning the case of Mr McDowall, with a covering note by the patient.
Manuscript Incomplete?	No
Evidence of Commercial Posting	No

Case

Cases that this document belongs to:

Case ID	Description	Num Docs
[Case ID:724]	Case of Mr McDowall [Douall], who developed a rheumatic complaint while in America, followed by other episodes of illness, including an injured leg from being knocked into by a horse.	4

People linked to this document

Person ID	Role in document	Person
[PERS ID:563]	Author	Dr Alexander Stevenson (Professor; of Dalgairn )
[PERS ID:577]	Addressee	Dr Wood
[PERS ID:576]	Patient	Mr John McDowall (McDoual)
[PERS ID:563]	Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary	Dr Alexander Stevenson (Professor; of Dalgairn )
[PERS ID:576]	Supplemental Author	Mr John McDowall (McDoual)

Places linked to this document

Role in document	Settlements / Areas	Region	Country	Global Region	Confidence
Place of Writing	Glasgow	Glasgow and West	Scotland	Europe	certain
Destination of Letter	Edinburgh	Edinburgh and East	Scotland	Europe	inferred
Therapeutic Recommendation	Buxton	Midlands	England	Europe	certain
Mentioned / Other			USA	North America	certain
Mentioned / Other	Glasgow	Glasgow and West	Scotland	Europe	certain

Normalized Text

[Page 1]

Mr. McDowall when in America was sub¬
ject to Rhumatism & Intermittent Fever,
Since He came home He has had several
Attacks of Rhumatism -

The external pains occasionally alter¬
nated with pains or disorder of the Stomach
& guts.

In July 1770 He was seiz'd with an universal
acute Rhumatism, but most severely in the Arms.
His recovery was tedious - in the course of his
illness, He was several times bled - Took Decoct.
Lignor. Dec. Senek. Dovers powder, sudorific
Boluses & finally the Bark.

In May 1771 Had an Erysipelas on the face

August 1772 Went to Buxton, where he
drank the Waters & bathed with benefit

Since that time He has had now & then Tooth¬
aches, Rheums of the Head & other partial Rhuma¬
tic attacks.

About the end of September last, tho' not very well,
He was coming & going between his Country
House & Glasgow - His Horse rushing out

[Page 2]

of the stable drove him to the wall, & hurt
him much, particularly the right arm: & the
left Leg on the outside about the middle was much
bruised, but his boot saved the skin from being
broken. He went immediately to the Country in
the Chaise, & was warm & uneasy, the Leg & arm
stiff & sore - staid at home next day; & would have
been bled, but that He was to take a journey to
Edinburgh which he perform'd tho' unable to walk
without help. His Arm soon was well, but
the Leg grew rather worse till the discolouring went
off, then He cou'd walk slowly from room to room

About Christmass, Leeches were put to the
part that had been bruised, & occasioned a great
swelling & uneasiness - The pain became very easy
& the swelling was chiefly in the Evenings after
sitting up, over the whole foot, but chiefly at the
roots of the toes.

Near two months ago when I examined the Leg
& foot, there appeared little or no swelling; but the
Leg was smaller than the other from its not being
used - & after gently pressing the foot between
the finger & thumb at the root of the toes, tho' it

[Page 3]

was not uneasy, yet next morning it was red
& pained. Some Days after He had a violent
pain of his Stomach & his foot was easy.

At other times, whether the foot was exposed to
cold or by any other mismanagement, his
Stomach & guts were much disordered.

Last month he had severe Rheums of the head
Toothache & the gum suppurated - At the same
he was sadly distressed with the Haemorrhoids
which hardly bled any.

During the Winter he had a Course of Decoction of Sarsaparilla
with volatile tincture of guaiacum
Dovers powder was proposed, but a former Dose
had made him so sick that He returned it
& indeed He was very sick after taking a mo¬
derate quantity of emetic wine with [L. liq.?] ¹

For some weeks past he has used the
Bark with and without Rhubarb by turns.

From want of Exercise both Legs are small
but the left is the smallest - there is no particu¬
lar fault but debility - His Pulse which was
occasionally quick, is now steadily calm & his
Appetite Tollerable

A. Stevenson

Glasgow 29 March 1776

✍

[Page 4]

Mr. McDouall presents his Compliments to
Doctor Wood, begs he will consider the
within case, and give him his opinion
fully as soon as Convenient, & should
Doctor Woods instructions fail of success,
Mr. McDouall will inform Dr. Wood, when
he may consult any other person he
thinks proper.

April 1st. 1776

Direct to John McDouall Glasgow

✍

Mr Macdowal
March - 1776
Vol. V. p. 12

Notes:

1: It is unclear what this denotes, but it might possibly indicate "Liguid Lignum".

Diplomatic Text

[Page 1]

Mr. McDowall when in America was sub¬
ject to Rhumatism & Intermittent Fever,
Since He came home He has had several
Attacks of Rhumatism -

The external pains occasionally alter¬
nated with pains or disorder of the Stomach
& guts.

In May 1771 Had an Erysipelas on the face

August 1772 Went to Buxton, where he
drank the Waters & bathed with benefit

Since that time He has had now & then Tooth¬
aches, Rheums of the Head & other partial Rhuma¬
tic attacks.

About the end of Septr last, tho' not very well,
He was coming & going between his Country
House & Glasgow - His Horse rushing out

[Page 2]

of the stable drove him to the wall, & hurt
him much, particularly the right arm: & the
left Leg on the outside about the middle was much
bruised, but his boot saved the skin from being
broken. He went immediately to the Country in
the Chaise, & was warm & uneasy, the Leg & arm
stiff & sore - staid at home next day; & would have
been bled, but that He was to take a journey to
Edinbr which he perform'd tho' unable to walk
without help. His Arm soon was well, but
the Leg grew rather worse till the discolouring went
off, then He cou'd walk slowly from room to room

[Page 3]

was not uneasy, yet next morning it was red
& pained. Some Days after He had a violent
pain of his Stomach & his foot was easy.

At other times, whether the foot was exposed to
cold or by any other mismanagement, his
Stomach & guts were much disordered.

Last month he had severe Rheums of the head
Toothache & the gum suppurated - At the same
he was sadly distressed with the Haemorrhoids
which hardly bled any.

During the Winter he had a Course of Decoct.
Sarsap.
with Tinct. guia[c?]aii volat.
Dovers powder was proposed, but a former Dose
had made him so sick that He returned it
& indeed He was very sick after taking a mo¬
derate quantity of Vin. Emet. with [L. liq.?] ¹

For some weeks past he has used the
Bark with and without Rhubarb by turns.