Cullen

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

 

[ID:2253] From: Mr George Burdon / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Mr George Burdon (Patient) / 6 August 1782 / (Incoming)

Letter from George Burdon, concerning his own case. He had heard from Mr Hudson that Cullen might be visiting Newcastle, but chose to write since he did not know when Cullen's visit might be. Mr Burdon suffers from a long-standing rheumatic condition and more recently complains of bloody urine after riding.

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Metadata

FieldData
DOC ID 2253
RCPE Catalogue Number CUL/1/2/1319
Main Language English
Document Direction Incoming
Date6 August 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 George Burdon, concerning his own case. He had heard from Mr Hudson that Cullen might be visiting Newcastle, but chose to write since he did not know when Cullen's visit might be. Mr Burdon suffers from a long-standing rheumatic condition and more recently complains of bloody urine after riding.
Manuscript Incomplete? No
Evidence of Commercial Posting Yes

Case

Cases that this document belongs to:

Case ID Description Num Docs
[Case ID:968]
Case of George Burdon who has a long-standing rheumatic complaint, develops bloody urine, suspected gravel and who eventually passes a large stone.
11


People linked to this document

Person IDRole in documentPerson
[PERS ID:4763]AuthorMr George Burdon
[PERS ID:1]AddresseeDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:4763]PatientMr George Burdon
[PERS ID:4764]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr
[PERS ID:4778]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr Hebberden
[PERS ID:1]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:1454]Other Physician / SurgeonDr Askew
[PERS ID:3081]Patient's Relative / Spouse / FriendMr Hudson

Places linked to this document

Role in document Specific Place Settlements / Areas Region Country Global Region Confidence
Place of Writing Newcastle upon Tyne North-East England Europe certain
Destination of Letter Edinburgh Edinburgh and East Scotland Europe certain
Therapeutic Recommendation Bath South-West England Europe certain
Mentioned / Other Harrogate North-East England Europe certain
Place of Handstamp Newcastle upon Tyne North-East England Europe certain

Normalized Text

[Page 1]

Sir


Mr. Hudson a Gentleman in this Neighborhood having
acquainted me that he expected you ↑to↑ be passing thro' this
Town soon I haver hitherto desisted from writing to you.
but as I now begin to think it uncertain when you may
come I rather chuse to lay my Case before you and desire
your Opinion upon it. I am about 46 years of Age not of
an Athletic Make but born with a good sound Constitution
with which in the early Part of my Life I took great
Libertys and consiquently took large Quantitys of mercury,
but happly for me I married at 25 and have been very
temperate since except now & then sitting up at Nights: about
six years ago I over heated myself prodigiously & I fancy must
have cooled too suddenly for in a few Days after I was
seized with a Pain in all my Joints and broke out in
runing Sores from Head to Foot, I applied to our principal
Physician (it's since Dr. Askew's Death) who after giving me a few
burning hot medicines put me to the Expence of sending a
Fee to Dr. Hebberden as he confessed he did not understand my
Case and would wish to see that Gentleman's Opinion upon it




[Page 2]


The Dr. recomended a Journey to Bath which at that Time I could
not with any Degree of Conveniency take. I therefore went to
Harrowgate and by Bathing in the hot Bath I very near
lost the Use of all my Limbs so I came home worse than I
went: I then tryed Sea Bathing & that restored me the Use
of my Kness & Ankles but my Hips & Shoulders and right
Hand
continue swell'd and very painfull if moved the least
out of a direct Line, for Instance tho' I can walk pretty well
yet if I attempt to throw my Leg over a Horse I must have
Assistance. For about those three Weeks past I have had an¬
other Complaint of a more alarming Nature than the above
which is the constantly making of bloody Urine, after riding
tho' ever so gently, it is almost entire Blood, I can not say
that I have any material Pain in my Back nor have
I parted with any Gravel except once, at the Time I first
took this Complaint which was when the Influenza was
so rife I was very sick almost to fainting. I have hitherto
taken nothing for it but the inclosed Prescription from my Surgeon
I wish from my Discription of this Complaint you may be
able to judge whether or no it proceeds from Stone Gravel or Ulcer



[Page 3]

possible it may be one of the bad Consiquences of the rugged
Quack medicines I have taken for my Rheumatick Complaints
I beg your Acceptance of the two inclosed Guinea Notes
and am very respectfully


Sir
your most humble servant

Geo. Burdon

N.Castle 6th. August 1782



[Page 4]


Dr. Cullen M: D:
Edenbrough


Mr Burdon
August 1782.
V. XIV. p. 192

Diplomatic Text

[Page 1]

Sir


Mr. Hudson a Gentleman in this Neighborhood having
acquainted me that he expected you ↑to↑ be passing thro' this
Town soon I haver hitherto desisted from writing to you.
but as I now begin to think it uncertain when you may
come I rather chuse to lay my Case before you and desire
your Opinion upon it. I am about 46 years of Age not of
an Athletic Make but born with a good sound Constitution
with which in the early Part of my Life I took great
Libertys and consiquently took large Quantitys of mercury,
but happly for me I married at 25 and have been very
temperate since except now & then sitting up at Nights: about
six years ago I over heated myself prodigiously & I fancy must
have cooled too suddenly for in a few Days after I was
seized with a Pain in all my Joints and broke out in
runing Sores from Head to Foot, I applied to our principal
Physician (it's since Dr. Askew's Death) who after giving me a few
burng. hot medicines put me to the Expence of sending a
Fee to Dr. Hebberden as he confessed he did not understand my
Case and would wish to see that Gentleman's Opinion upon it




[Page 2]


The Dr. recomended a Journey to Bath which at that Time I could
not with any Degree of Conveniency take. I therefore went to
Harrowgate and by Bathing in the hot Bath I very near
lost the Use of all my Limbs so I came home worse than I
went: I then tryed Sea Bathing & that restored me the Use
of my Kness & Ankles but my Hips & Shoulders and right
Hand
continue swell'd and very painfull if moved the least
out of a direct Line, for Instance tho' I can walk pretty well
yet if I attempt to throw my Leg over a Horse I must have
Assistance. For about those three Weeks past I have had an¬
other Complaint of a more alarming Nature than the above
which is the constantly making of bloody Urine, after riding
tho' ever so gently, it is almost entire Blood, I can not say
that I have any material Pain in my Back nor have
I parted with any Gravel except once, at the Time I first
took this Complaint which was when the Influenza was
so rife I was very sick almost to fainting. I have hitherto
taken nothing for it but the inclosed Prescription from my Surgn.
I wish from my Discription of this Complaint you may be
able to judge whether or no it proceeds from Stone Gravel or Ulcer



[Page 3]

possible it may be one of the bad Consiquences of the rugged
Quack medicines I have taken for my Rheumatick Compls.
I beg your Acceptance of the two inclosed Guinea Notes
and am very respectfully


Sir
your most humble servant

Geo. Burdon

N.Castle 6th. Augt. 1782



[Page 4]


Dr. Cullen M: D:
Edenbrough


Mr Burdon
Aug. 1782.
V. XIV. p. 192

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