The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:2207] From: Dr Alexander Bannerman / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Mr James Burnet (Burnett, of Countesswells) (Patient) / 11 May 1782 / (Incoming)
Letter from Alexander Banneman, concerning the case of Mr Burnett of Countesswells, whose phthysical symptoms are worsening. An enclosed note by Bannerman, added later, states that 'in all Probability it will be a very difficult & embarassing affair to procure a neutral ship at this Port for some time', should Cullen advise a sea voyage.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 5 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
[Page 3]
[Page 4]
[Page 5]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 2207 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/1279 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Incoming |
| Date | 11 May 1782 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Authorial original |
| Enclosure(s) | Enclosure(s) present |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Letter from Alexander Banneman, concerning the case of Mr Burnett of Countesswells, whose phthysical symptoms are worsening. An enclosed note by Bannerman, added later, states that 'in all Probability it will be a very difficult & embarassing affair to procure a neutral ship at this Port for some time', should Cullen advise a sea voyage. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1450] |
Case of James Burnet [Burnett] of Countesswells, who has a pectoral complaint (or pthisis). |
5 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:3456] | Author | Dr Alexander Bannerman |
| [PERS ID:1] | Addressee | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:3454] | Patient | Mr James Burnet (Burnett, of Countesswells) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:3456] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr Alexander Bannerman |
Places linked to this document
| Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Writing | Aberdeen | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Destination of Letter | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Mentioned / Other | Aberdeen | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Mentioned / Other | Countesswells House / Counterswells | Aberdeen | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
I am desired by Mr Burnett of Countess Wells to write
you this Letter that you may be aquainted with the state
of Mr Burnetts health since he consulted you at Edinburgh &
that you may suggest the most probable means which
your knowledge & Experience will direct for his
Benefit his situation being now so Critical that it
requires the Uttmost Attention & best Advice.
The day You saw him he left Edinburgh &
three days after by slow Journeys which fatigued
him much he got home, since that time which is
now 11 Days I am sorry to say that he has not
gained any Ground indeed much otherwise. All
the Phthisical Symptoms have encreased & are
making Rapid Progress. This Cough Feverish
[Page 2]
Habit, the Pulse being never under 90 & often
above 100 frequent Returns of Diarhœa
Restless Nights with profuse Sweatings towards
Morning gave too much Reason to dread a fatal
Issue unless Matters Change very soon.
The Regimen according to Your Directions
has been exactly followed, & he has taken the Pills
& Mixture which you prescribed the 3 first Nights
they quieted the Cough & procured some Rest but
Opiates unless increased lose their Effect & I
confess I am rather unwilling to push them in
this Case. His Friends are anxious for Your
further Advice & that you would fully consider
whether under these Circumstances a Sea Voyage
might or not be attempted or what other Plan
you think that he should follow
The Season has been & continues
obstinately unkind to Phthisical complaints
[Page 3]
& the situation of Mr Burnetts house is rather
inconvenient in this Respect being on very high
Grounds 4 Miles from the Sea & much exposed
particularly to the Cold Easterly Winds which pre¬
vail so much in this Quarter of the Country &
at this time of the year
From what You already know of Mr Burnetts
Constitution I hope I have fully explained the present
state of Matters on which you are to determine &
that you will give your Opinion with that Decision
which I hope may have the Effect to make Mr Burnett
follow the Plan which you shall prescribe, for Although
I have been his intimate Friend and Physician these 10
years & I beleive he has much Confidence in me
yet he is of that Disposition that it will require
All the Weight that of Authority which your
Advice deserves to perswade him to follow
[Page 4]
proper Rules for his health
I must request the favor of Your Answer
in Course or as soon As your Convenience will
allow In the mean time I have the honor to
be with Much Respect
Sir
your most obedient Servant
Direct for
Dr Bannerman
Physician
Aberdeen
Dr William Cullen
Dr Bannerman
Concerning Burnet of Counters¬
wells ----
May 1782.
V. XIV. p. 48.
[Page 5]
✍
Since Writing the Letter I find that in all
Probability it will be a very difficult & embarras¬
sing Affair to procure a [Neutral?] Ship at
this Port for some time & therefore I beg that
you will weigh the Advantage of a Sea Voyage
with any other Plans you may have in View for
Mr Burnett. If it is your Opinion that it
is of Consequence We shall endeavour to
get the better of the Inconvenieance that
may attend it.
Diplomatic Text
I am desired by Mr Burnett of Countess Wells to write
you this Letter that you may be aquainted wt the state
of Mr Burnetts health since he consulted you at Edinr. &
that you may suggest the most probable means which
your knowledge & Experience will direct for his
Benefit his situation being now so Critical that it
requires the Uttmost Attention & best Advice.
The day You saw him he left Edinr. &
three days after by slow Journeys which fatigued
him much he got home, since that time which is
now 11 Days I am sorry to say that he has not
gained any Ground indeed much otherwise. All
the Phthisical Symptoms have encreased & are
making Rapid Progress. This Cough Feverish
[Page 2]
Habit, the Pulse being never under 90 & often
above 100 frequent Returns of Diarhœa
Restless Nights wt profuse Sweatings towards
Morning gave too much Reason to dread a fatal
Issue unless Matters Change very soon.
The Regimen according to Your Directions
has been exactly followed, & he has taken the Pills
& Mixture which you prescribed the 3 first Nights
they quieted the Cough & procured some Rest but
Opiates unless increased lose their Effect & I
confess I am rather unwilling to push them in
this Case. His Friends are anxious for Your
further Advice & that you would fully consider
whether under these Circumstances a Sea Voyage
might or not be attempted or what other Plan
you think that he should follow
The Season has been & continues
obstinately unkind to Phthisical complaints
[Page 3]
& the situation of Mr Burnetts house is rather
inconvenient in this Respect being on very high
Grounds 4 Miles from the Sea & much exposed
particularly to the Cold Easterly Winds which pre¬
vail so much in this Quarter of the Country &
at this time of the year
From what You already know of Mr Burnetts
Constitution I hope I have fully explained the present
state of Matters on which you are to determine &
that you will give your Opinion wt that Decision
which I hope may have the Effect to make Mr Burnett
follow the Plan which you shall prescribe, for Although
I have been his intimate Friend and Physician these 10
years & I beleive he has much Confidence in me
yet he is of that Disposition that it will require
All the Weight that of Authority which your
Advice deserves to perswade him to follow
[Page 4]
proper Rules for his health
I must request the favor of Your Answer
in Course or as soon As your Convenience will
allow In the mean time I have the honor to
be wt Much Respect
Sir
your most obedt St
Direct for
Dr Bannerman
Physician
Aberdeen
Dr William Cullen
Dr Bannerman
C Burnet of Counters¬
wells ----
May 1782.
V. XIV. p. 48.
[Page 5]
✍
Since Writing the Letter I find that in all
Probability it will be a very difficult & embarras¬
sing Affair to procure a [Neutral?] Ship at
this Port for some time & therefore I beg that
you will weigh the Advantage of a Sea Voyage
wt any other Plans you may have in View for
Mr Burnett. If it is your Opinion that it
is of Consequence We shall endeavour to
get the better of the Inconvenieance that
may attend it.
XML
XML file not yet available.
Feedback
Send us specfic feeback about this document [DOC ID:2207]
Please note that the Cullen Project team have now disbanded but your comments will be logged in our system and we will look at them one day...
