The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:2664] From: Mrs Margaret Bell (Bethune) / To: Mr Thomas Bruce (Williamson) (of Arnot) / Regarding: Governor Charles Bell (Patient) / 17 July 1785 / (Incoming)
Letter from Margaret Bell to Mr Bruce of Arnot, concerning the case of her husband, Governor Bell, who has a painful urinary tract ailment, which he believes is gouty in origin. She asks him to consult Cullen or Monro about his case. Her handwriting is poor and hard to decipher in places: she explains she is writing at 5 a.m., while her husband is asleep. She seems distraught: 'O Mr Bruce you often see the Person who is Dearest to you in Distress but God forbid you should ever see her in Agony from which no [care?] no assistance can relieve'.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 4 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
[Page 3]
[Page 4]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 2664 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/1706 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Incoming |
| Date | 17 July 1785 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Authorial original |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Letter from Margaret Bell to Mr Bruce of Arnot, concerning the case of her husband, Governor Bell, who has a painful urinary tract ailment, which he believes is gouty in origin. She asks him to consult Cullen or Monro about his case. Her handwriting is poor and hard to decipher in places: she explains she is writing at 5 a.m., while her husband is asleep. She seems distraught: 'O Mr Bruce you often see the Person who is Dearest to you in Distress but God forbid you should ever see her in Agony from which no [care?] no assistance can relieve'. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | Yes |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1817] |
Case of Governor Charles Bell, whose condition is diagnosed as gouty and nephritic. |
3 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:5646] | Author | Mrs Margaret Bell |
| [PERS ID:5643] | Addressee | Mr Thomas Bruce (of Arnot) |
| [PERS ID:5645] | Patient | Governor Charles Bell |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:89] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Professor Alexander Monro (secundus; Munro ) |
| [PERS ID:5643] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Mr Thomas Bruce (of Arnot) |
| [PERS ID:5644] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Mrs Anna Bruce (of Kinross & Arnot) |
| [PERS ID:5646] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Mrs Margaret Bell |
Places linked to this document
| Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Writing | Cupar (Coupar / Coupar of Fife) | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Destination of Letter | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Place of Handstamp | Cupar (Coupar / Coupar of Fife) | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
It would have been impossible
for me at any time to express the Gratitude your kind
obliging letter [inspir'd?] me with. At present I am little
able either to write or speak but sine I can the mis¬
erable state of my mind has not blunted my Feelings
but makes me feel if possible more strongly than ever
Every proof of kindness or Frendship I meet with ––
Mr Bell begs his most grateful acknowledgements to
you for the trouble you have taken he says your letter
has given him far ↑more↑ satisfaction than he has yet received
from all persons he has yet consulted your opinion
is so distinct and so entirely coincides with his own –
he is very much convinced that great part of his
Disorder proceeds from the Gout, but its much to
be feard it will be dificult to draw the pain
from that place where it has so unhappily fixd
the Sinapisms as yet have had no effect but he
will try them again – he took the Sago with
[Page 2]
[pleasure?] yesterday the Althea root he had here ord¬
erd before he is resolved also to try the Cicuta tho
the matter which he passes is never thin or [ichorous?]
but always when it does come away very thick
and while he has sufferd a great deal of Agony
for this week past and that discharge was stopd
and his habit the appearance of a person in Health
but it begun again yesterday and he has been
a little Easier since – I trust your goodness of
Heart will forgive my having so particular on
a subject so [absorbing?] to me and as you are so
kind as say you would take the trouble to consult
any of the Physicians we shall [know?] it is [Cer¬
tainly?] the way that I should be best pleased to
have their opinion ask'd – Mr Bell seems inclind
that it should be Either Cullen or Monrow as
you shall think best – he wishes to know if
you approve of his taking the Saline Draughts
which he has done now for this four months. Do
you think fruits or sallad are proper for ↑him↑ the latter
he has a great desire for –––– I am sure Mr
Bruce wil excuse my not answering his page
I write this at five in the morning with a
[Page 3]
"
Confus'd Head and very unsteady Hand but I take
the time when he is asleep – O Mr Bruce you often
see the Person who is Dearest to you in Distress
but God forbid you should ever see her in Agony
from which no [care?] no assistance can relieve
As God Almighty Bless you both and your dearest
Children is the Earnest Prayer of your very unhappy
but much obliged grateful Humble servant
I have enclosed two Guinea notes do perhaps too little
for a Consultation if it is I beg you will Pray
tell me and add to it what you think prop[er]
which will be most thankfully repayd ––––
[Page 4]
Mr Bruce of Arnot
Edinburgh
Governor Bell
July 1785
V. XVII. p. 180
Diplomatic Text
It would have been impossible
for me at any time to express the Gratitude your kind
obliging letter [inspir'd?] me with. At present I am little
able either to write or speak but sine I can the mis¬
erable state of my mind has not blunted my Feelings
but makes me feel if possible more strongly than ever
Every proof of kindness or Frendship I meet with ––
Mr Bell begs his most grateful acknowledgements to
you for the trouble you have taken he says your letter
has given him far ↑more↑ satisfaction than he has yet received
from all persons he has yet consulted your opinion
is so distinct and so entirely coincides with his own –
he is very much convinced that great part of his
Disorder proceeds from the Gout, but its much to
be feard it will be dificult to draw the pain
from that place where it has so unhappily fixd
the Sinapisms as yet have had no effect but he
will try them again – he took the Sago with
[Page 2]
[pleasure?] yesterday the Althea root he had here ord¬
erd before he is resolved also to try the Cicuta tho
the matter which he passes is never thin or [ichorous?]
but always when it does come away very thick
and while he has sufferd a great deal of Agony
for this week past and that discharge was stopd
and his habit the appearance of a person in Health
but it begun again yesterday and he has been
a little Easier since – I trust your goodness of
Heart will forgive my having so particular on
a subject so [absorbing?] to me and as you are so
kind as say you would take the trouble to consult
any of the Physicians we shall [know?] it is [Cer¬
tainly?] the way that I should be best pleased to
have their opinion ask'd – Mr Bell seems inclind
that it should be Either Cullen or Monrow as
you shall think best – he wishes to know if
you approve of his taking the Saline Draughts
which he has done now for this four months. Do
you think fruits or sallad are proper for ↑him↑ the latter
he has a great desire for –––– I am sure Mr
Bruce wil excuse my not answering his page
I write this at five in the morning with a
[Page 3]
"
Confus'd Head and very unsteady Hand but I take
the time when he is asleep – O Mr Bruce you often
see the Person who is Dearest to you in Distress
but God forbid you should ever see her in Agony
from which no [care?] no assistance can relieve
As God Almighty Bless you both and your dearest
Children is the Earnest Prayer of your very unhappy
but much obliged grateful Humble servt
I have enclosed two Guinea notes do perhaps too little
for a Consultation if it is I beg you will Pray
tell me and add to it what you think prop[er]
which will be most thankfully repayd ––––
[Page 4]
Mr Bruce of Arnot
Edr
Governor Bell
July 1785
V. XVII. p. 180
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