The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:1666] Case Note / Regarding: Miss Russell (Y. Z.) (Patient) / 5 May 1779 / (Incoming)
Unsigned and undated case note concerning the case of 'Miss Y_ Z_'. The reverse dates it as 5 May 1779. Letter makes reference to Miss Y Z's physician consulting with Dr Cullen in such a way that suggests the letter might not have been sent to Cullen originally.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 3 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
[Page 3]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 1666 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/753 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Incoming |
| Date | 5 May 1779 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Authorial original |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Unsigned and undated case note concerning the case of 'Miss Y_ Z_'. The reverse dates it as 5 May 1779. Letter makes reference to Miss Y Z's physician consulting with Dr Cullen in such a way that suggests the letter might not have been sent to Cullen originally. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1147] |
Case of 'Miss Y. Z.' (an anonymisation of Miss Russel), a young woman who has had another episode of a previous mental disorder; Cullen considers the case treatable hysteria rather than incurable mania. |
5 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:2722] | Author | Mr F Russell |
| [PERS ID:183] | Patient | Miss Russell (Y. Z.) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:2804] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | |
| [PERS ID:2722] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Mr F Russell |
Places linked to this document
No places linked to this Document.
Normalized Text
A Girl of a sanguine complextion & Eager temper, naturally
of a healthy Constitution & sweet Disposition. --- When between
14 & 15 showed symptoms of a disordered mind, but without
any appearance of Insanity or attempt to [outrage?], becomes
obstinate sullen perverse disrepectful & insolent towards her
Parent and Friends, to whom she was wont to be dutifull
& affectionate, her malady was attended with some degree of
Fever, but no bodily Complaint, pretending bad usage from
her Parents she was disposed to wander round the Country
--- This case was at that time laid before Dr. Cullen by a
Gentleman of Skill in the Profession, the Dr was pleased to
coincide with that Gentlemen in opinion, that this Change
most likely to be attributed to the great Change at that
period of life generally takes place in the female Constitution,
and doubted not but upon the ferment of Blood subsiding,
which it seems in these circumstances is not in common, &
the Periods coming to flow regularly that she would be
restored to her former health & tranquility. This opinion
was fully justified by the Event. In a short time the
fever abated the Periods began & the Girl was restored
to her former health & continued for about 3 years the
delight of all her friends.
This unfortunate Girl now about Eighteen, was some
weeks ago affected very nearly in the same manner as
formerly - At times affected with fitts of Excessive laughter,
silliness of behaviour, again insolent & even fierce to those about
[Page 2]
her, crying aloud singing & reading extravagantly, complaining of
unkindess & harsh usage, where all is tenderness & affection,
again desireous of wandering, & in every way possible showing
a mind wholly perturbed & disordered; at other times [exceedingly
decent?], so as that strangers could not discern that any thing
had ever been amiss; again she would become as high as
ever, by & by low & sullen, and once or twice has had short
Intervals, when she has most movingly bewailed her misfortune
& expressed the deepest Contrition for her irregular behaviour
- All this without the smallest appearance of Lunacy, the Change
of the moon not having the least Effect on the disorder.
The Physician who has had an opportunity of seeing her
thinks the disorder hysterical & has applied Blooding & Physick
without any good Effect from ridiculous delicacy, it is not [possitively?]
informed whether the Periods are now regular or not, but it is
strongly presumed that there is no Complaint of that kind, as
the Patient, is represented in [high?] bodily health, eating & drinking
more than is usual.
It will readily be perceived that this case is drawn up
by a Person of no Skill, Altho much interested, He now
attends to give any further Information, And to be informed
in the general what course the Dr. shall think most
proper to be followed, and in particular whether Goat whey,
Bathing, or Journeying may be thought most advisable
[Page 3]
✍
Miss Y. Z. from
Mr Russell -
May 5 1779
Vol. IX, p.171
&c
Diplomatic Text
A Girl of a sanguine complextion & Eager temper, naturally
of a healthy Constitution & sweet Disposition. --- When between
14 & 15 showed symptoms of a disordered mind, but without
any appearance of Insanity or attempt to [outrage?], becomes
obstinate sullen perverse disrepectful & insolent towards her
Parent and Friends, to whom she was wont to be dutifull
& affectionate, her malady was attended with some degree of
Fever, but no bodily Complaint, pretending bad usage from
her Parents she was disposed to wander round the Country
--- This case was at that time laid before Dr. Cullen by a
Gentleman of Skill in the Profession, the Dr was pleased to
coincide with that Gentlemen in opinion, that this Change
most likely to be attributed to the great Change at that
period of life generally takes place in the female Constitution,
and doubted not but upon the ferment of Blood subsiding,
which it seems in these circumstances is not in common, &
the Periods coming to flow regularly that she would be
restored to her former health & tranquility. This opinion
was fully justified by the Event. In a short time the
fever abated the Periods began & the Girl was restored
to her former health & continued for about 3 years the
delight of all her friends.
This unfortunate Girl now about Eighteen, was some
weeks ago affected very nearly in the same manner as
formerly - At times affected with fitts of Excessive laughter,
silliness of behaviour, again insolent & even fierce to those about
[Page 2]
her, crying aloud singing & reading extravagantly, complaining of
unkindess & harsh usage, where all is tenderness & affection,
again desireous of wandering, & in every way possible showing
a mind wholly perturbed & disordered; at other times [exceedingly
decent?], so as that strangers could not discern that any thing
had ever been amiss; again she would become as high as
ever, by & by low & sullen, and once or twice has had short
Intervals, when she has most movingly bewailed her misfortune
& expressed the deepest Contrition for her irregular behaviour
- All this without the smallest appearance of Lunacy, the Change
of the moon not having the least Effect on the disorder.
The Physician who has had an opportunity of seeing her
thinks the disorder hysterical & has applied Blooding & Physick
without any good Effect from ridiculous delicacy, it is not [possitively?]
informed whether the Periods are now regular or not, but it is
strongly presumed that there is no Complaint of that kind, as
the Patient, is represented in [high?] bodily health, eating & drinking
more than is usual.
It will readily be perceived that this case is drawn up
by a Person of no Skill, Altho much interested, He now
attends to give any further Information, And to be informed
in the general what course the Dr. shall think most
proper to be followed, and in particular whether Goat whey,
Bathing, or Journeying may be thought most advisable
[Page 3]
✍
Miss Y. Z. from
Mr Russell -
May 5 1779
Vol. IX, p.171
&c
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