The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:1843] From: Dr Alexander Taylor (Sanders) / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Mr Robert Neilson (Nielson, of Paisley) (Patient), Mrs Macclaw (MacLaw, Mclaws) (Patient) / 20 April 1780 / (Incoming)
Letter from Alexander Taylor concerning the case of Mr Nielson and MrsMcLaws.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 4 images for this document.
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[Page 2]
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Metadata
Field | Data |
---|---|
DOC ID | 1843 |
RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/922 |
Main Language | English |
Document Direction | Incoming |
Date | 20 April 1780 |
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 Alexander Taylor concerning the case of Mr Nielson and MrsMcLaws. |
Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
Evidence of Commercial Posting | Yes |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
---|---|---|
[Case ID:316] |
Case of Mr Robert Neilson with a chronic, progressive illness, probably pulmonary (consumption) but possible cardiac. After a gap, in early January 1782, Cullen confirms that Neilson's condition is terminal. An autopsy soon follows. |
22 |
[Case ID:2050] |
Case of Mrs McLaws (Macclaw) who has an 'eruption on her arm'. |
5 |
People linked to this document
Person ID | Role in document | Person |
---|---|---|
[PERS ID:207] | Author | Dr Alexander Taylor (Sanders) |
[PERS ID:1] | Addressee | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
[PERS ID:832] | Patient | Mrs Macclaw (MacLaw, Mclaws) |
[PERS ID:206] | Patient | Mr Robert Neilson (Nielson, of Paisley) |
[PERS ID:207] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr Alexander Taylor (Sanders) |
[PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
[PERS ID:832] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Mrs Macclaw (MacLaw, Mclaws) |
[PERS ID:206] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Mr Robert Neilson (Nielson, of Paisley) |
Places linked to this document
Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Place of Writing | Paisley | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
Destination of Letter | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
Place of Handstamp | Paisley | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
Since I wrote last,
notwithstanding the very severe
Winter, Mr. Nielson has continued
upon the whole better than before
he was confined to his present Diet -
his P in general his Pulse has
been Calm and regular and his
heart free from fluttering and
Palpitation - his Stomach has likewise
been always very good - he gets passage
of his belly once or sometimes twice a-
day regularly; and he continues to get
longer and more Comfortable Sleep than
formerly - But tho' he is better there is
nevertheless scarce a full hour in any
day that it can be said he is perfectly
free from the Pains; and every night he
is awakened by them and obliged to be
rubbed before he can again fall asleep -
the P pains likewise sometimes become
very severe and the Pulse quick and smart
[Page 2]
at such times when their Violence is not
abated by Rubbing, the usual temporary
Cure, I am forced to have recourse to the
Lancet; and four such occasions have oc¬
curred since I wrote you last -- one tea
Cupful of blood or at most two (the greatest
quantity that has been taken at a time) have
always given relief - the blood was al¬
ways [sizy?]; but the last time the Crust
was considerably thinner and less tough
than formerly tho' as far as I could judge
the Circumstances in Cooling were as fa¬
vourable for it's formation then as former¬
ly ---- About two months ago
Mr. Nielson shewed me a remarkable
jutting out of his Ribs upon the right
side about a hand's breadth from the
Cartilago enseformis; as if the Cartilages
of the false ribs had yielded and allowed
the ribs to Protrude at their junction with
them - upon Pressing immediately below
this Swelling I found no internal Swelling
or hardness - it therefore was not occasioned
by any Swelling of the Liver which I at first
apprehended - and as he never had any Cough
nor difficulty in breathing it could not pro¬
ceed from any Collection in the Thorax -
[Page 3]
this Protuberance has since become less
and almost disappeared and possibly might
be owing to the (↑a↑) weakness of these Cartilages
and his Constant lying upon the right side
- this Place tho' a Common seat for the Pains
is sometimes entirely free from them at
which times they usually flit to the back
and shoulders ---- the reason of troubling
you at present is to inform you of a Symp¬
tom which has continued for a long time
tho' it was but lately mentioned to me -
it is a partial Sweat which is Cold
and begins every night in his left [leg]
and advances up the thigh and someti[mes]
farther; at the same time the right [leg]
and thigh are warm and free from [[sweat]?]
of any kind - his left leg and thigh are
actually at such times Cold to the feeling
- upon drying and rubbing this Coldness goes
off; but he and he has no pain nor never
had any in his leg and Side nor does he
observe any Numbness -- Mr. Nielson
wishes to have your opinion of his appear¬
ance &c. -- I beg leave to remember (↑remind↑) You
of Mrs. Mc.Laws whose eruption upon the
arms is worse than ever --
I am Sir
Your most humble Servant
[Page 4]
To
Dr. William Cullen
Professor of Medicine
Edinburgh
Mr Taylor
Concerning
Mr Neilson
April 1780
V. XI p. 6 7.
Diplomatic Text
Since I wrote last,
notwithstanding the very severe
Winter, Mr. Nielson has continued
upon the whole better than before
he was confined to his present Diet -
his P in general his Pulse has
been Calm and regular and his
heart free from fluttering and
Palpitation - his Stomach has likewise
been always very good - he gets passage
of his belly once or sometimes twice a-
day regularly; and he continues to get
longer and more Comfortable Sleep than
formerly - But tho' he is better there is
nevertheless scarce a full hour in any
day that it can be said he is perfectly
free from the Pains; and every night he
is awakened by them and obliged to be
rubbed before he can again fall asleep -
the P pains likewise sometimes become
very severe and the Pulse quick and smart
[Page 2]
at such times when their Violence is not
abated by Rubbing, the usual temporary
Cure, I am forced to have recourse to the
Lancet; and four such occasions have oc¬
curred since I wrote you last -- one tea
Cupful of blood or at most two (the greatest
quantity that has been taken at a time) have
always given relief - the blood was al¬
ways [sizy?]; but the last time the Crust
was considerably thinner and less tough
than formerly tho' as far as I could judge
the Circumstances in Cooling were as fa¬
vourable for it's formation then as former¬
ly ---- About two months ago
Mr. Nielson shewed me a remarkable
jutting out of his Ribs upon the right
side about a hand's breadth from the
Cartilago enseformis; as if the Cartilages
of the false ribs had yielded and allowed
the ribs to Protrude at their junction with
them - upon Pressing immediately below
this Swelling I found no internal Swelling
or hardness - it therefore was not occasioned
by any Swelling of the Liver which I at first
apprehended - and as he never had any Cough
nor difficulty in breathing it could not pro¬
ceed from any Collection in the Thorax -
[Page 3]
this Protuberance has since become less
and almost disappeared and possibly might
be owing to the (↑a↑) weakness of these Cartilages
and his Constant lying upon the right side
- this Place tho' a Common seat for the Pains
is sometimes entirely free from them at
which times they usually flit to the back
and shoulders ---- the reason of troubling
you at present is to inform you of a Symp¬
tom which has continued for a long time
tho' it was but lately mentioned to me -
it is a partial Sweat which is Cold
and begins every night in his left [leg]
and advances up the thigh and someti[mes]
farther; at the same time the right [leg]
and thigh are warm and free from [[sweat]?]
of any kind - his left leg and thigh are
actually at such times Cold to the feeling
- upon drying and rubbing this Coldness goes
off; but he and he has no pain nor never
had any in his leg and Side nor does he
observe any Numbness -- Mr. Nielson
wishes to have your opinion of his appear¬
ance &c. -- I beg leave to remember (↑remind↑) You
of Mrs. Mc.Laws whose eruption upon the
arms is worse than ever --
I am Sir
Your most humble Servt.
[Page 4]
To
Dr. William Cullen
Professor of Medicine
Edinr.
Mr Taylor
C
Mr Neilson
April 1780
V. XI p. 6 7.
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