The Cullen Project | [ID:22] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Mr Robert Redpath / Regarding: Mr Forster (Foster) (Patient), Mrs Lamb (Patient) / 11 March 1765 / (Outgoing)

[ID:22] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Mr Robert Redpath / Regarding: Mr Forster (Foster) (Patient), Mrs Lamb (Patient) / 11 March 1765 / (Outgoing)

Reply 'To Mr Redpath, Berwick', concerning the case of Mr Forster, who is diagnoses as a case of 'melancholia hypochodriae'.

Facsimile
Normalized Text
Diplomatic Text
Metadata
Case
People
Places

Facsimile

There are 5 images for this document.

[Page 1]

[Page 2]

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[Page 5]

Metadata

Field	Data
DOC ID	22
RCPE Catalogue Number	CUL/1/1/1/17
Main Language	English
Document Direction	Outgoing
Date	11 March 1765
Annotation	None
Type	Scribal copy ( includes Casebook Entry)
Enclosure(s)	No enclosure(s)
Autopsy	No
Recipe	Yes
Regimen	No
Letter of Introduction	No
Case Note	No
Summary	Reply 'To Mr Redpath, Berwick', concerning the case of Mr Forster, who is diagnoses as a case of 'melancholia hypochodriae'.
Manuscript Incomplete?	No
Evidence of Commercial Posting	No

Case

Cases that this document belongs to:

Case ID	Description	Num Docs
[Case ID:232]	Cases of Mrs Lamb and her two daughters who are prescribed a 'strengthening electuary' and various other medicines.	2
[Case ID:285]	Case of Mr Forster which is diagnosed as having melancholy hypochondria.	1

People linked to this document

Person ID	Role in document	Person
[PERS ID:1]	Author	Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:901]	Addressee	Mr Robert Redpath
[PERS ID:902]	Patient	Mrs Lamb
[PERS ID:900]	Patient	Mr Forster (Foster)
[PERS ID:1]	Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary	Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:901]	Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary	Mr Robert Redpath

Places linked to this document

Role in document	Specific Place	Settlements / Areas	Region	Country	Global Region	Confidence
Place of Writing	Cullen's House / Mint Close	Edinburgh	Edinburgh and East	Scotland	Europe	certain
Destination of Letter		Berwick-upon-Tweed (Berwick)	North-East	England	Europe	certain

Normalized Text

[Page 1]
To Mr Redpath Berwick

11 March 1765

Dear Sir

I think there is no doubt of the nature of Mr
Forster's disease. It is plainly the melancholia Hypo¬
chondriaea. It is commonly founded in the Tempera¬
ment & therefore very often obstinate & tedious but I
see no reason for any Circumstances you mention
to apprehend the consequences that Mr Forster himself
does I hope by [the?] advice I am now to offer to
him he shall be relieved of most of his Complaints
& particularly from his fears which are the
most distressing part of [them?] - The first measure
to be taken is by the frequent use of Aloetic
Pill or Tincture to keep his belly constantly regular

Every 2d or 3d night let him take a dose
of the Cephalic Pills, I expect that these may
mend his sleep & if he finds they do so may
take them only as occasion may require
A very frequent use will destroy their Effect
and at any rate if he repeats them he must
increase the Dose, from three to four or five
In all incident fits of Uneasiness or langour
I can offer nothing better than what

[Page 2]

you have been using the volatile Tincture of
Valerian only I shall observe to you that it
becomes familiar by frequent use & less Effectual
& therefore should not be taken very often and
when it is taken it should be in a full Dose
If you had not told me that you had employ'd
the Aperients and Bitters I should have been
ready to have [prescribed?] them now but as
upon tryal they have not done much I
shall not merit on them nor at present
on any other medecine except the Cephalic
Pill because I am to propose a Remedy
I am to depend upon more than any Medecine
& which I hope will lay a foundation for
any medecines being more effectual

The Remedy I mean is Riding and I
beg that Mr Foster may set about it
directly, the season is not yet very fa¬
vourable but it is now tollerable
enough & will be every day more so -
Riding in any shape will be of service
but short Rides or Airings in the Neigh¬
bourhood of Berwick will do very little
Nothing less than two stages a day that
is from 30 to 40 measured miles will
give much relief and that not for one
day but for a number of days together

The best method of managing this
is by entering upon a Journey that
may last for twelve or [14?] days

This is the only effectual measure
but if want of a Companion

[Page 3]

or attachment to his own house or to business
makes him decline entering upon a Journey
he may ride nearer home but let him be
steady in Riding every day only heavy
rain being an exception and the best way
of Doing will be to ride out a Stage from
Berwick in the morning before Breakfast
to Breakfast there and to return to Berwick
before Dinner - Even in taking a Journey
it will be of service to avoid riding after
Dinner as often as possible Pray think
of all this as said with regard to the chief
Remedy for Mr Forster, when he has by a
fortnights Riding got the better as I expect
he will of the most part of his complaints
let him not lay it aside altogether but
every other day 2 or 3 times a week
continue to take such Rides and now
also he may take some other medecines
to carry off remains or prevent returns

One of these should be about half
an ounce of soluble Tartar dissolved in
an English Pint of Water to be taken
in the morning at several draughts
in the manner of a mineral water.

If it purges [freely?] he must take it only every
2d or 3d day or if it purges little he may
take it every day or indeed it may be
best to diminish the Dose so as that
he may take it every day and
in

[Page 4]

this way to continue it for two or three weeks

After Riding has put such a Constitution
as Mr Forster's into a proper Train
I have found great Benefit from the soluble
Tartar - During the Course of soluble Tartar
the Aloetic Pill will not be necessary

For Mr Forsters diet it may be in general
a hale mans meat i.e. Common fare only
let him avoid Greens Roots & other flatulent
food & at same time all heavy meats
particularly heavy suppers, Tea &
Coffee are bad Malt Liquors of all kinds
except [it may?] be a little Porter are
improper for him, wine & water is the
best Let him be warmly cloathed
especially on his feet & Legs, He should
keep [re?]gular hours & particularly avoid
lying a bed in the morning after his
sound sleep in over - I am oblig'd
to you for remembering Mrs Lamb in
the manner you do altho it gives
me much concern; I assure it vexes
[me heartily?] if I have neglected a Person
for whom I would express the greatest
regard - As my notes on the subject
are fallen by I will be obliged to
you for some hints & then I shall
make the best amends in my power
Sir

[Page 5]
For Mr Forster

Take Camphor and two scruples of white sugar as directed with sufficient quantity of the mucilage of Gum Tragacanth as that makes a mass to be divided into pills of five grains each Label: Cephalic Pills, two or three for a dose

Diplomatic Text

[Page 1]
To Mr Redpath Berwick

11 March 1765

Dr Sir

I think there is no doubt of the nature of Mr
Forster's disease. It is plainly ye melancholia Hypo¬
chondriaea. It is commonly founded in ye Tempera¬
ment & therefore very often obstinate & tedious but I
see no reason for any Circumstances you mention
to apprehend the consequences yt Mr Forster himself
does I hope by [ye?] advice I am now to offer to
him he shall be relieved of most of his Complaints
& particularly from his fears which are ye
most distressing part of [them?] - The first measure
to be taken is by the frequent use of Aloetic
Pill or Tincture to keep his belly constantly regular

Every 2d or 3d night let him take a dose
of the Cephalic Pills, I expect that these may
mend his sleep & if he finds they do so may
take them only as occasion may require
A very frequent use will destroy their Effect
and at any rate if he repeats them he must
increase ye Dose, from three to four or five
In all incident fits of Uneasiness or langour
I can offer nothing better than what

[Page 2]

you have been using the vol. Tincture of
Valerian only I shall observe to you that it
becomes familiar by frequent use & less Effectual
& therefore should not be taken very often and
when it is taken it should be in a full Dose
If you had not told me that you had employ'd
the Aperients and Bitters I should have been
ready to have [prescribed?] them now but as
upon tryal they have not done much I
shall not merit on them nor at present
on any other medecine except the Cephalic
Pill because I am to propose a Remedy
I am to depend upon more than any Medecine
& which I hope will lay a foundation for
any medecines being more effectual

The best method of managing this
is by entering upon a Journey that
may last for twelve or [14?] days

This is the only effectual measure
but if want of a Companion

[Page 3]

or attachment to his own house or to business
makes him decline entering upon a Journey
he may ride nearer home but let him be
steady in Riding every day only heavy
rain being an exception and ye best way
of Doing will be to ride out a Stage from
Berwick in ye morning before Breakfast
to Breakfast there and to return to Berwick
before Dinner - Even in taking a Journey
it will be of service to avoid riding after
Dinner as often as possible Pray think
of all this as said wt regard to the chief
Remedy for Mr Forster, when he has by a
fortnights Riding got the better as I expect
he will of the most part of his complaints
let him not lay it aside altogether but
every other day 2 or 3 times a week
continue to take such Rides and now
also he may take some other medecines
to carry off remains or prevent returns

One of these should be about half
an ounce of soluble Tartar dissolved in
an English Pint of Water to be taken
in ye morning at several draughts
in ye manner of a mineral water.

If it purges [freely?] he must take it only every
2d or 3d day or if it purges little he may
take it every day or indeed it may be
best to diminish the Dose so as that
he may take it every day and
in

[Page 4]

this way to continue it for two or three weeks

After Riding has put such a Constitution
as Mr Forster's into a proper Train
I have found great Benefit from ye soluble
Tartar - During the Course of soluble Tartar
ye Aloetic Pill will not be necessary

For Mr Forsters diet it may be in general
a hale mans meat i.e. Common fare only
let him avoid Greens Roots & other flatulent
food & at same time all heavy meats
particularly heavy suppers, Tea &
Coffee are bad Malt Liquors of all kinds
except [it may?] be a little Porter are
improper for him, wine & water is the
best Let him be warmly cloathed
especially on his feet & Legs, He should
keep [re?]gular hours & particularly avoid
lying a bed in the morning after his
sound sleep in over - I am oblig'd
to you for remembering Mrs Lamb in
ye manner you do altho it gives
me much concern; I assure it vexes
[me heartily?] if I have neglected a Person
for whom I would express ye greatest
regard - As my notes on ye subject
are fallen by I will be obliged to
you for some hints & then I shall
make ye best amends in my power
Sir

[Page 5]
For Mr Forster

℞ Camphor
Sachar Alb ud ℈ ij
Mucilag. G Tragacanth q.s. ut f massa
divid in Pilul sing gr V S. Cephalic Pills
two or three for a dose

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