Cullen

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

There are 4 images for this document.

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Metadata

FieldData
DOC ID 1843
RCPE Catalogue Number CUL/1/2/922
Main Language English
Document Direction Incoming
Date20 April 1780
Annotation None
TypeAuthorial 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 IDRole in documentPerson
[PERS ID:207]AuthorDr Alexander Taylor (Sanders)
[PERS ID:1]AddresseeDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:832]PatientMrs Macclaw (MacLaw, Mclaws)
[PERS ID:206]PatientMr Robert Neilson (Nielson, of Paisley)
[PERS ID:207]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr Alexander Taylor (Sanders)
[PERS ID:1]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:832]Patient's Relative / Spouse / FriendMrs Macclaw (MacLaw, Mclaws)
[PERS ID:206]Patient's Relative / Spouse / FriendMr 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

[Page 1]
Paisley 20 April 1780
Sir


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
Alexr. Taylor



[Page 4]


To
Dr. William Cullen
Professor of Medicine
Edinburgh


Mr Taylor
Concerning
Mr Neilson
April 1780
V. XI p. 6 7.

Diplomatic Text

[Page 1]
Paisley 20 April 1780
Sir


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.
Alexr. Taylor



[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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