Cullen

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

 

[ID:2187] From: Dr Alexander Taylor (Sanders) / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Mr James Orr (Patient), Mr William Orr ((later) of Ingliston, then Ralston) (Patient) / 8 April 1782 / (Incoming)

Letter from Alexander Taylor, concerning the case of James Orr and reporting on the progress of William Orr. James has recovered, and William is improving, though not yet fully well. Taylor says he had not previously understood how pus from the liver could be expectorated.

Facsimile

There are 4 images for this document.

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Metadata

FieldData
DOC ID 2187
RCPE Catalogue Number CUL/1/2/1260
Main Language English
Document Direction Incoming
Date8 April 1782
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 James Orr and reporting on the progress of William Orr. James has recovered, and William is improving, though not yet fully well. Taylor says he had not previously understood how pus from the liver could be expectorated.
Manuscript Incomplete? No
Evidence of Commercial Posting Yes

Case

Cases that this document belongs to:

Case ID Description Num Docs
[Case ID:553]
Case of James Orr who has a venereal infection in 1778, but by 1782 has abdominal complaints and various bodily pains which Cullen eventually attributes to a disordered liver.
13
[Case ID:554]
Case of William Orr who has an eye condition.
13


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:210]PatientMr James Orr
[PERS ID:211]PatientMr William Orr ((later) of Ingliston, then Ralston)
[PERS ID:1]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:207]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr Alexander Taylor (Sanders)
[PERS ID:210]Patient's Relative / Spouse / FriendMr James Orr
[PERS ID:211]Patient's Relative / Spouse / FriendMr William Orr ((later) of Ingliston, then Ralston)

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 Cullen's House / Mint Close Edinburgh Edinburgh and East Scotland Europe certain
Place of Handstamp Glasgow Glasgow and West Scotland Europe certain

Normalized Text

[Page 1]
Paisley 8 April 1782
Sir


James Orr once more
troubles you to make his acknow¬
ledgements for your attention to
him, which he does with great
thankfulness for he is now in all
appearance quite well –– After the
two-three first days the Cough and
expectoration gradually lessened and
have now left him entirely – and
even upon his low Regimen his strength
has been in some degree recruited ––
but he would now incline to indulge



[Page 2]

in better cheer and wishes to know
if you think a bit of flesh meat at
dinner would be hurtful or if he
might venture to take an airing in
the midst of a good day –– his pulse
has not been above 70
since I wrote
last and he feels no Pain nor un¬
easiness whatever –– I believe
I formerly informed you that
within these two years he had been
attacked twice with Pneumonic
inflammation which yielded soon
but required repeated bloodings –– he
is justly afraid of a return and has
begged of me to enquire what Regimen
or management you recommend as
averting such complaints.




[Page 3]


Before I did not comprehend how
Pus in an abcess of the liver could
be expectorated by the lungs – but
I did not consider that inflammation
is not necessarily confined either to
the Abdomen or Thorax; but may
at the same time extend from the
one to the other and unite the lungs,
diaphragm and liver into one body –
and in all cases where Pus fro[m]
the liver is evacuated by the
lungs
I presume that such Cohesion
does take place?


Wm. Orr's eyes are no worse – I
think rather better but still far from well

I am sir your most humble servant
Alexr Taylor



[Page 4]


Dr. William Cullen
Professor of Medicine
Edinburgh

Diplomatic Text

[Page 1]
Paisley 8 April 1782
Sir


James Orr once more
troubles you to make his acknow¬
ledgements for your attention to
him, which he does with great
thankfulness for he is now in all
appearance quite well –– After the
two-three first days the Cough and
expectoration gradually lessened and
have now left him entirely – and
even upon his low Regimen his strength
has been in some degree recruited ––
but he would now incline to indulge



[Page 2]

in better cheer and wishes to know
if you think a bit of flesh meat at
dinner would be hurtful or if he
might venture to take an airing in
the midst of a good day –– his pulse
has not been above 70
since I wrote
last and he feels no Pain nor un¬
easiness whatever –– I believe
I formerly informed you that
within these two years he had been
attacked twice with Pneumonic
inflammation which yielded soon
but required repeated bloodings –– he
is justly afraid of a return and has
begged of me to enquire what Regimen
or management you recommend as
averting such complaints.




[Page 3]


Before I did not comprehend how
Pus in an abcess of the liver could
be expectorated by the lungs – but
I did not consider that inflammation
is not necessarily confined either to
the Abdomen or Thorax; but may
at the same time extend from the
one to the other and unite the lungs,
diaphragm and liver into one body –
and in all cases where Pus fro[m]
the liver is evacuated by the
lungs
I presume that such Cohesion
does take place?


Wm. Orr's eyes are no worse – I
think rather better but still far from well

I am sir your most humble servt.
Alexr Taylor



[Page 4]


Dr. William Cullen
Professor of Medicine
Edinr.

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