Cullen

The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh

 

[ID:1977] From: Mr Richard Walker / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Miss Hodgson (Hodgeson) (Patient) / 11 February 1781 / (Incoming)

Covering letter from Richard Walker, a former student of Cullen's in Stockton. The letter accompanies the case (compiled by her maid) of Miss Hodgson (Doc ID 1978), a chronic invalid. He says: 'I had the pleasure & satisfaction on the Year: 74 thro' the Compliance of Dr. Pannell, to consult you' for her, and that 'she has never yet regularly complied with' the advice received. She is 'one of the most extraordinary Ladies, both mental & corporal, I ever met with'. She suffers from spasmodic, convulsive and inflammatory ailments, and has been treated for them with mercury. She also self-medicates from a collection he calls 'a little Apothecary shop of her own'.

Facsimile

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Metadata

FieldData
DOC ID 1977
RCPE Catalogue Number CUL/1/2/1056a
Main Language English
Document Direction Incoming
Date11 February 1781
Annotation None
TypeAuthorial original
Enclosure(s) Enclosure(s) present
Autopsy No
Recipe No
Regimen No
Letter of Introduction No
Case Note No
Summary Covering letter from Richard Walker, a former student of Cullen's in Stockton. The letter accompanies the case (compiled by her maid) of Miss Hodgson (Doc ID 1978), a chronic invalid. He says: 'I had the pleasure & satisfaction on the Year: 74 thro' the Compliance of Dr. Pannell, to consult you' for her, and that 'she has never yet regularly complied with' the advice received. She is 'one of the most extraordinary Ladies, both mental & corporal, I ever met with'. She suffers from spasmodic, convulsive and inflammatory ailments, and has been treated for them with mercury. She also self-medicates from a collection he calls 'a little Apothecary shop of her own'.
Manuscript Incomplete? No
Evidence of Commercial Posting No

Case

Cases that this document belongs to:

Case ID Description Num Docs
[Case ID:987]
Case of Miss Hodgson [Hodgeson] with a very long history marked by a complex range of changing symptoms and self-medication. She is a chronic invalid who cannot turn herself in bed without aid.
4


People linked to this document

Person IDRole in documentPerson
[PERS ID:1884]AuthorMr Richard Walker
[PERS ID:1]AddresseeDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:2273]PatientMiss Hodgson (Hodgeson)
[PERS ID:1884]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryMr Richard Walker
[PERS ID:1]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:1233]Other Physician / SurgeonDr Thomas Blackburne
[PERS ID:1659]Other Physician / SurgeonDr Fotherley Pannell
[PERS ID:2192]OtherMiss

Places linked to this document

Role in document Specific Place Settlements / Areas Region Country Global Region Confidence
Place of Writing Stockton-on-Tees North-East England Europe certain
Destination of Letter Cullen's House / Mint Close Edinburgh Edinburgh and East Scotland Europe certain

Normalized Text

[Page 1]
Sir.


Am quite asham'd to trouble you with so tedious
& prolix a Case as the enclos'd for your farther advice
– I had the pleasure, & satisfaction on the Year: 74.
thro' the Compliance of Dr. Pannell, to consult you
for a Miss Hodgson & to receive your very excellent
& Judicious advice – which she has never yet regularly
complied with; the tepid Bath was inconvenient – & a
repitition of salivation
– did not suit her notions of its
propriety, In short she is one of the most extraordinary
Ladies, both mental & corporal, I ever met with,


She has a little Apothecary's shop of her own, & is frequently
taking such medicines as the Whim of her own mind
dictates – has had variety of advice since your's
& has taken Camphor, Flowers of Zinc & all the novel Drugg's
recommended for Spasmodic Disorders – She has got the
minutes of the Case I represented to ↑you↑ drawn out & the rest
is the Compilation of her maid – all of which has made
me promise to forward to you. My friend Mr Blackburne



[Page 2]

who I presume is now your Pupil can give you farther
accounts – of this Lady who has so great a respect for the
medical Gentlemen –– You will receive the enclosed Draught for your
trouble, I wish it had been more,


Her generall Complaints are not materially alter'd
since the first Note of her Case, this last year more
particularly she has had frequent Inflammatory
Rheumatisms – which, notwithstanding the Exhibition of
James's Powder, Nitre Camphor &c could not be conquer'd without
general & topical Bleedings with the laxative neutral
salts
– of which the drachm of Vitriolated Tartar was most serviceable –
her Opiate was always necessary & if delay'd too long –
the convulsive Complaints became intolerable – as they
are always much more violent – when affected with these
Inflammatory Disorders, the Vagina, Perineum
Abdominal Muscles, Intestines – & extremities, & other parts –
at different ↑times↑ have been affected –– since her maid got
the enclos'd wrote has had a very severe attack.
– & I think the neck of the uterus, has been one part of its



[Page 3]

Seat – is now again recovered & has had a copious
nettle like Eruption over
the Abdomen - her Blood has
been ever buffy - or tenacious - according as it –
came in a full stream or trickling down the arm -
– since her Salivation altho' no (↑very little↑) Mercury, ↑& that seldom↑ has been
given – has very frequently profesd flow of
Saliva
– & is then always much better –
– the most violent attack of the Inflammatory kind was
in august last – when the Intestines were its seat – contrary -
to my wish necessity compell'd me to bleed three times
as her Blood was exceeding Buffy, Pulse quick small & hard
& no relieve till the third operation – but however
She had recruited – till this last attack – & by one kindly
Bleeding
has soon got free, together with Cupping - on
the abdomen – & other antiphlogistic medicines – & low Diet –
– she has those attacks even when she does not quit her
chamber – I fear I'm almost as tedious as her maid ––––
– but our Patient is an old maid & made ↑me↑ promise on my honor
– to say something to you myselfe, the Catamenia have ceas'd, some ye↑a↑rs


[Page 4]

I thought there was more air extricated from the Blood in
Cupping her, than I've observ'd in other Patients –– may the
Fluids abound too much with fix'd air & Cause these
frequent Inflammations & may the Caustic alkali be usefull -
– I beg Pardon for this offering this crude Query ––
but Sir I know you too well to entertain an Idea it
will be offensive, for whom I must beg leave to express –
my profound Veneration & respect – having once had the
happiness & pleasure of being your Pupil ––

& am Sr. Your very oblig'd humble Servant.
Richd. Walker
Stockton. February 11: 1781 –


P.S. have enclos'd
a Frank - directed for
me – & Flatter myself
to hear from you a soon
as perfectly convenient ––

Diplomatic Text

[Page 1]
Sir.


Am quite asham'd to trouble you with so tedious
& prolix a Case as the enclos'd for your farther advice
– I had the pleasure, & satisfaction on the Year: 74.
thro' the Compliance of Dr. Pannell, to consult you
for a Miss Hodgson & to receive your very excellent
& Judicious advice – which she has never yet regularly
complied with; the tepid Bath was inconvenient – & a
repitition of salivation
– did not suit her notions of its
propriety, In short she is one of the most extraordinary
Ladies, both mental & corporal, I ever met with,


She has a little Apothecary's shop of her own, & is frequently
taking such medicines as the Whim of her own mind
dictates – has had variety of advice since your's
& has taken Camphor, [Flor: Zinz:?] & all the novel Drugg's
recommended for Spasmodic Disorders – She has got the
minutes of the Case I represented to ↑you↑ drawn out & the rest
is the Compilation of her maid – all of which has made
me promise to forward to you. My friend Mr Blackburne



[Page 2]

who I presume is now your Pupil can give you farther
accounts – of this Lady who has so great a respect for the
medical Gentn. –– You will receive the enclosed Drt. for your
trouble, I wish it had been more,


Her generall Complaints are not materially alter'd
since the first Note of her Case, this last year more
particularly she has had frequent Inflammatory
Rheumatisms – which, notwithstanding the Exhibition of
P: Jacob., Nitr. Camph. &c could not be conquer'd without
general & topical Bleedings with the laxative neutral
salts
– of which the Tart. Vitr: ʒi was most serviceable –
her Opiate was always necessary & if delay'd too long –
the convulsive Complaints became intolerable – as they
are always much more violent – when affected wt these
Inflammatory Disorders, the Vagina, Perineum
Abdominal Muscles, Intestines – & extremities, & oyr. parts –
at different ↑times↑ have been affected –– since her maid got
the enclos'd wrote has had a very severe attack.
– & I think the neck of the uterus, has been one part of its



[Page 3]

Seat – is now again recovered & has had a copious
nettle like Eruption over
the Abdomen - her Blood has
been ever buffy - or tenacious - according as it –
came in a full stream or trickling down the arm -
– since her Salivation altho' no (↑very little↑) Mercury, ↑& that seldom↑ has been
given – has very frequently profesd flow of
Saliva
– & is then always much better –
– the most violent attack of the Inflammatory kind was
in augst. last – when the Intestines were its seat – contrary -
to my wish necessity compell'd me to bleed three times
as her Blood was exceeding Buffy, Pulse quick small & hard
& no relieve till the third operation – but however
She had recruited – till this last attack – & by one kindly
Bleeding
has soon got free, together with Cupping - on
the abdomen – & oyr. antiphlogistic medicines – & low Diet –
– she has those attacks even when she does not quit her
chamber – I fear I'm almost as tedious as her maid ––––
– but our Patient is an old maid & made ↑me↑ promise on my honor
– to say something to you myselfe, the Catam: have ceas'd, some ye↑a↑rs


[Page 4]

I thought there was more air extricated from the Blood in
Cupping her, than I've observ'd in oyr. Patients –– may the
Fluids abound too much with fix'd air & Cause these
freqt. Inflammations & may the Caustic alkali be usefull -
– I beg Pardon for this offering this crude Q. ––
but Sir I know you too well to entertain an Idea it
will be offensive, for whom I must beg leave to express –
my profound Veneration & respect – having once had the
happiness & pleasure of being your Pupil ––

& am Sr. Yr. very oblig'd humble Sert.
Richd. Walker
Stockton. Feby. 11: 1781 –


P.S. have enclos'd
a Frank - directed for
me – & Flatter myself
to hear from you a soon
as perfectly convent ––

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