Cullen

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

 

[ID:2032] From: Dr William Hamilton (in Glasgow) / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Mr Thomas Hopkirk (of Dalbeth) (Patient), Mr Edward Brisbane (Patient) / 25 July 1781 / (Incoming)

Letter from William Hamilton, concerning the case of Mr Brisbane, and also giving a report on the progress of Mr Hopkirk, who is 'rather worse than he was when you saw him in Edinburgh'.

Facsimile

There are 4 images for this document.

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Metadata

FieldData
DOC ID 2032
RCPE Catalogue Number CUL/1/2/1110
Main Language English
Document Direction Incoming
Date25 July 1781
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 William Hamilton, concerning the case of Mr Brisbane, and also giving a report on the progress of Mr Hopkirk, who is 'rather worse than he was when you saw him in Edinburgh'.
Manuscript Incomplete? No
Evidence of Commercial Posting Yes

Case

Cases that this document belongs to:

Case ID Description Num Docs
[Case ID:1329]
Case of Edward Brisbane, a merchant returned to Glasgow from America, who has ascites and anasarca (fluid retention) which prove fatal.
9
[Case ID:1342]
Case of Thomas Hopkirk who suffers from a severe pain in his right side and a related stomach disorder.
6


People linked to this document

Person IDRole in documentPerson
[PERS ID:175]AuthorDr William Hamilton (in Glasgow)
[PERS ID:1]AddresseeDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:2873]PatientMr Edward Brisbane
[PERS ID:95]PatientMr Thomas Hopkirk (of Dalbeth)
[PERS ID:1]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:175]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr William Hamilton (in Glasgow)
[PERS ID:2878]OtherMrs Isabella Hamilton
[PERS ID:743]OtherMrs Anna Cullen
[PERS ID:1057]OtherProfessor Thomas Hamilton

Places linked to this document

Role in document Specific Place Settlements / Areas Region Country Global Region Confidence
Place of Writing Glasgow Glasgow and West Scotland Europe certain
Destination of Letter Edinburgh Edinburgh and East Scotland Europe certain
Place of Handstamp Falkirk Mid Scotland Scotland Europe certain

Normalized Text

[Page 1]
Dear Sir


At my Fathers desire I take
this opportunity of acknowledging your last
letter and of informing you, that your
directions about Mr Brisbane have been
strictly followed. I am sorry to say they have
as yet not been attended with the desired
effect the water on the abdomen having
rather encreased. As his size is become very
inconvenient to him and as the medicines
in his present state are not likely to
operate we were proposing to draw off the
water
about the beginning of next week,
& then to try the Diuretics as you ordered.


The last paragraph in your letter my
father has not had an opportunity of
obliging, but will do it as soon as possible.




[Page 2]


Your patient Mr Hopkirk is rather worse
than he was when you saw him in
Edinburgh; his legs are very much swelled
at night, his appetite almost gone and has
a fever
upon him every night. He is now
obliged to have recourse to an opiate to
procure him rest, it is given as seldom
as possible (as you did not seem to approve of
it) but when it is ommitted he says he
gets no sleep.
His Issue still continues
to discharge well
, & he is using the Infusion
you ordered for him. For some days past
I have observed a greater fullness of his
belly
, which arises from what may be
expected a beginning Ascites. He says he
has made a greater quantity of water
since he used the last medicine. His Pulse
is about 92
, his skin & eyes still yellow
tho now free of the pain & oppression he
formerly complained of in the region of
the Liver
. We may now encrease the
strength of the infusion as it has had
no bad effect rather checking the Diarrhœa
he had all along had I should not have
have given you this trouble had I not
thought it my duty to inform you of




[Page 2]


every change on your patients under our
care. My Father & Mother join me in respect¬
ful compliments to Mrs Cullen & the rest
of the good family


I ever am Dear Sir
with esteem & regard
your obliged humble Servant
William Hamilton

Glasgow
July 25th 1781


P.S. Mr Brisbane whom I have now
left, begs me to inform you of the proposal
of drawing off the water & wishes to have
your concurrence in the measure

WH



[Page 4]


Dr Cullen
Professor of Medicine
Edinburgh


Mr Hamilton
Concerning Mr Brisbane
July 1781.

Diplomatic Text

[Page 1]
Dear Sir


At my Fathers desire I take
this opportunity of acknowledging your last
letter and of informing you, that your
directions about Mr Brisbane have been
strictly followed. I am sorry to say they have
as yet not been attended with the desired
effect the water on the abdomen having
rather encreased. As his size is become very
inconvenient to him and as the medicines
in his present state are not likely to
operate we were proposing to draw off the
water
about the beginning of next week,
& then to try the Diuretics as you ordered.


The last paragraph in your letter my
father has not had an opportunity of
obliging, but will do it as soon as possible.




[Page 2]


Your patient Mr Hopkirk is rather worse
than he was when you saw him in
Edinburgh; his legs are very much swelled
at night, his appetite almost gone and has
a fever
upon him every night. He is now
obliged to have recourse to an opiate to
procure him rest, it is given as seldom
as possible (as you did not seem to approve of
it) but when it is ommitted he says he
gets no sleep.
His Issue still continues
to discharge well
, & he is using the Infusion
you ordered for him. For some days past
I have observed a greater fullness of his
belly
, which arises from what may be
expected a beginning Ascites. He says he
has made a greater quantity of water
since he used the last medicine. His Pulse
is about 92
, his skin & eyes still yellow
tho now free of the pain & oppression he
formerly complained of in the region of
the Liver
. We may now encrease the
strength of the infusion as it has had
no bad effect rather checking the Diarrhœa
he had all along had I should not have
have given you this trouble had I not
thought it my duty to inform you of




[Page 2]


every change on your patients under our
care. My Father & Mother join me in respect¬
ful compliments to Mrs Cullen & the rest
of the good family


I ever am Dear Sir
with esteem & regard
your obliged humble Servt
William Hamilton

Glasgow
July 25th 1781


P.S. Mr Brisbane whom I have now
left, begs me to inform you of the proposal
of drawing off the water & wishes to have
your concurrence in the measure

WH



[Page 4]


Dr Cullen
Professor of Medicine
Edinburgh


Mr Hamilton
C Mr Brisbane
July 1781.

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