The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:1929] From: Sir George Burnet(t) (Burnett of Kemnay) / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Sir George Burnet(t) (Burnett of Kemnay) (Patient) / 12 October 1780 / (Incoming)
Letter from Dir George Burnett of Kemnay concerning his own case. Burnett describes his responses to various treatments at some length, before asking Cullen a series of questions concerning the use of opiates, wearing flannel etc.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 7 images for this document.
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Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 1929 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/1008 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Incoming |
| Date | 12 October 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 Dir George Burnett of Kemnay concerning his own case. Burnett describes his responses to various treatments at some length, before asking Cullen a series of questions concerning the use of opiates, wearing flannel etc. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1200] |
Case of George Burnet of Kenmay who is emaciated after a very chronic cough, like chin cough which has lasted several years. |
6 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:641] | Author | Sir George Burnet(t) (Burnett of Kemnay) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Addressee | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:641] | Patient | Sir George Burnet(t) (Burnett of Kemnay) |
| [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 | Kemnay House | Aberdeen | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | certain |
| Destination of Letter | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
Kemnay house 12 October
1780
Sir
I am favoured with yours
of the 9 Current, upon the reading it; I take
the libirty of writting you what the perusal
has sugested.
Passing over that part of your letter that
relates to going abroad as tis a thing I
coud by no means bring myself to think
of.
First as to the Flannel shirt you
perscrib, before I try it, I must aquaint
you, that I have all my Life been
subject, in warm weather, or much
exercise to profuse sweatings & since
I tunrd old & weak the smalest exercise,
during the warm season puts me in
a sweat. This being the case, which I
dont know if I suficiently aquainted you
[Page 2]
with before, I am dubious if you would
have ordered it; as tho it had not occasiond
too strong a persperation, in the cold
months, it might where the weather becomes
warmer, when yet it could not be safe
to lay it aside; but this I submit to you
Your mention an issue
with approbation, but I wish you had
mentiond in what place.
I told you in my last, that opiates make
me not only wakefull, & very unhappy -
the whol night, but sick the next day.
I am told that - Hoffmans Anodyne drops
tho it has some Opium in the perperation,
yet is so mixt, that it sometimes agrees
with those it↑{illeg}↑ disagree a with in every
other shape.
You seem to speak of Blisters with
some approbation, but do not mention
[Page 3]
to what place they had best be applyd.
I have already mentiond, what
I thought necessary to inform you off, with
respect my persperation, but must observe,
with respect to the solution, that you seem
to prepose, as promotive of it, that it is
with much reluctance I think of takeing
a potion morning & night for a fortnight
too, that is to make sick for certain.
Nor do you say how long the interval is
to be when it is discontinoued.
You would see by a second letter, my
impatience gave you the trouble off, how
uneasy I was with restlessness & oppression
of my breathing in the nights. this ↑is↑ so great
lately, especially in Frost, that I cannot
keep my bed. It was sujested that the
last was not improbably occasioned by
[Page 4]
thick viscous Fleghm lying on the Lungs,
tho others have imagend that this, & a great
many of my other Complaints, are Nervous
As I have all my Life had some such sort
of Habit, & it was preposd to put some
Gum Amoniac amongst my Squill Mixture
but this I shal not try till I hear from
you.
You mention the degree of cold
proper to be Observed in my airings. But
nothing with respect to the dampness or
dryness of the Air.
I dont know if I mentioned so fully as I
ought my vast drought, which gives me the
greatest uneasiness; in so much that I
can sometimes scarce move my tongue,
& which with great difficulty in Breathing,
that seems to come from the bottom of my
stomach, tho I have no great Sence of inward
[Page 5]
heat making me now & then fancy that
there ↑is↑ a destemper in my Liver, or some
of the Inwards such Fancys come across
me at Times!
I shal conclude, by drawing all I want to
be informd of befor your view at once.
If, after reading the above, you yet think
I should wear the flanel shirt I shall do it?
If an Issue is tryed what is the best Place?
I told you how very much Opiates disagree
with me, would I be free of the Inconveniences
of them by taking in there stead Hoffmans
↑Anodyne↑ drops
If a Blister applyd, which is the best Place?
Could you say any thing that would make
easier under the Apprehension of that
sickning Potion that you mention to
be taken for a fortnight at a time
[Page 6]
Could you mention any thing for immediate
ease of that {illeg} Drought, & Laborious
Breathing I suffer so much from just now?
I think it was four glass of Claret after dinner and
four of Port after supper if this is too much shall
take. He would sometimes incline to take a glass of
strong ale but never does it
I am with very great regard
sir
your most obedient
most humble servant
Geo: Burnett
[Page 7]
Dr. Cullen Physician
in Edinburgh
Diplomatic Text
Kemnay house 12 Octr.
1780
Sir
I am favoured with yours
of the 9 Currt., upon the reading it; I take
the libirty of writting you what the perusal
has sugested.
Passing over that part of your letter that
relates to going abroad as tis a thing I
coud by no means bring myself to think
of.
First as to the Flannel shirt you
perscrib, before I try it, I must aquaint
you, that I have all my Life been
subject, in warm weather, or much
exercise to profuse sweatings & since
I tunrd old & weak the smalest exercise,
during the warm season puts me in
a sweat. This being the case, which I
dont know if I suficiently aquainted you
[Page 2]
with before, I am dubious if you would
have ordered it; as tho it had not occasiond
too strong a persperation, in the cold
months, it might where the weather becomes
warmer, when yet it could not be safe
to lay it aside; but this I submit to you
Your mention an issue
with approbation, but I wish you had
mentiond in what place.
I told you in my last, that opiates make
me not only wakefull, & very unhappy -
the whol night, but sick the next day.
I am told that - Hoffmans Anodyne drops
tho it has some Opium in the perperation,
yet is so mixt, that it sometimes agrees
with those it↑{illeg}↑ disagree a with in every
other shape.
You seem to speak of Blisters with
some approbation, but do not mention
[Page 3]
to what place they had best be applyd.
I have already mentiond, what
I thought necessary to inform you off, with
respect my persperation, but must observe,
with respect to the solution, that you seem
to prepose, as promotive of it, that it is
with much reluctance I think of takeing
a potion morning & night for a fortnight
too, that is to make sick for certain.
Nor do you say how long the interval is
to be when it is discontinoued.
You would see by a second letter, my
impatience gave you the trouble off, how
uneasy I was with restlessness & oppression
of my breathing in the nights. this ↑is↑ so great
lately, especially in Frost, that I cannot
keep my bed. It was sujested that the
last was not improbably occasioned by
[Page 4]
thick viscous Fleghm lying on the Lungs,
tho others have imagend that this, & a great
many of my other Complaints, are Nervous
As I have all my Life had some such sort
of Habit, & it was preposd to put some
Gum Amoniac amongst my Squill Mixture
but this I shal not try till I hear from
you.
You mention the degree of cold
proper to be Observed in my airings. But
nothing with respect to the dampness or
dryness of the Air.
I dont know if I mentioned so fully as I
ought my vast drought, which gives me the
greatest uneasiness; in so much that I
can sometimes scarce move my tongue,
& which with great difficulty in Breathing,
that seems to come from the bottom of my
stomach, tho I have no great Sence of inward
[Page 5]
heat making me now & then fancy that
there ↑is↑ a destemper in my Liver, or some
of the Inwards such Fancys come across
me at Times!
I shal conclude, by drawing all I want to
be informd of befor your view at once.
If, after reading the above, you yet think
I should wear the flanel shirt I shall do it?
If an Issue is tryed what is the best Place?
I told you how very much Opiates disagree
with me, would I be free of the Inconveniences
of them by taking in there stead Hoffmans
↑Anodyne↑ drops
If a Blister applyd, which is the best Place?
Could you say any thing that would make
easier under the Apprehension of that
sickning Potion that you mention to
be taken for a fortnight at a time
[Page 6]
Could you mention any thing for immediate
ease of that {illeg} Drought, & Laborious
Breathing I suffer so much from just now?
I think it was four glass of Claret after dinner and
four of Port after supper if this is too much shall
take. He would sometimes incline to take a glass of
strong ale but never does it
I am with very great regard
sir
your most obedient
most humble servant
Geo: Burnett
[Page 7]
Dr. Cullen Physician
in Edinr.
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