Cullen

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

 

[ID:267] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Dr William Hamilton (in Glasgow) / Regarding: Mrs Janet Arnot (Alston) (of Silverwood) (Patient), Miss (Patient) / 9 February 1782 / (Outgoing)

Reply, 'Dr Hamilton C Mrs Arnot'. Cullen does not believe there is an external tumour, but rather a 'spasmodic constriction' in the throat and now possibly a 'thickening of the coats of the Å“sophagus'.

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Metadata

FieldData
DOC ID 267
RCPE Catalogue Number CUL/1/1/14/156
Main Language English
Document Direction Outgoing
Date9 February 1782
Annotation None
TypeMachine copy
Enclosure(s) No enclosure(s)
Autopsy No
Recipe No
Regimen No
Letter of Introduction No
Case Note No
Summary Reply, 'Dr Hamilton C Mrs Arnot'. Cullen does not believe there is an external tumour, but rather a 'spasmodic constriction' in the throat and now possibly a 'thickening of the coats of the Å“sophagus'.
Manuscript Incomplete? No
Evidence of Commercial Posting No

Case

Cases that this document belongs to:

Case ID Description Num Docs
[Case ID:880]
Case of Mrs Janet Arnot who has a constricted throat.
7
[Case ID:2461]
Case of an unnamed female patient with a stricture of the oesophagus.
1


People linked to this document

Person IDRole in documentPerson
[PERS ID:1]AuthorDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:175]AddresseeDr William Hamilton (in Glasgow)
[PERS ID:1265]PatientMrs Janet Arnot (of Silverwood)
[PERS ID:2091]PatientMiss
[PERS ID:175]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr William Hamilton (in Glasgow)
[PERS ID:1]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)

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 Glasgow Glasgow and West Scotland Europe inferred

Normalized Text

[Page 1]
Dr Hamilton Concerning Mrs Arnot
Dear Sir


I received yours concerning Mrs Arnot
yesterday but could not answer it till to day.


The case is not new to me but it is very difficult to cure.
I don't believe that there is any tumour tho her feeling maybe as
if there was, but any degree of external tumour must I mean exter¬
nal to the oesophagus must be felt by your hand examining it.
I am perswaded that it has been originally a spasmodic constriction
and nothing else will account for its being relieved by pregnancy
and warm weather; but it is possible that there may now be a
thickening of
the coats of the œsophagus which will render the
cure more difficult. After the trials that have been I cannot
expect any thing from urging the Mercury farther especially
at this Season. The blistering was at first a probable remedy
and may be tried again but I would first try antispasmodics and
emollients. Let a little good Æther be applied on each side of the
Larynx
or a little below it so as to come ↑as↑ near to the œsophagus as
possible, and this may be tried twice a day keeping the throat con¬
stantly covered with a piece of fine and thick fur. If the soreness



[Page 2]

which you mention as formerly in the pharynx and mouth
be now so entirely gone that she bears the swallowing of some things
acrid as mustard; salt, spirits or such like I would let her swallow
a little æther diluted with water and according to what she bears ––
proceed farther. I once had a young Lady with a stricture of the Œso¬
phagus
which sometimes for a day or two entirely prevented swallow¬
ing but a little æther made its way and allowed other things to follow
By the repetition of this practice and the use of Laudanum the dis¬
ease was entirely cured. When Mrs Arnot ailment was recent
the latter remedy might perhaps have been of service but I cannot
expect benefit from it now when there is probably an constriction from
a thickening of the coats and at least a rigidity of long contracted
fibres
. I wish you had been a little particular with regard to the
state of Mrs Arnots swallowing
. She certainly swallows some nou¬
rishment & pray tell me of what kind and consistence for this must
regulate some measures I might propose and therefore I shall say
no more now nor till I hear from you again but that I am
always

Dear William Your affectionate humble servant
William Cullen
Edinburgh 9th February
1782

Diplomatic Text

[Page 1]
Dr Hamilton C Mrs Arnot
Dear Sir


I received yours concerning Mrs Arnot
yesterday but could not answer it till to day.


The case is not new to me but it is very difficult to cure.
I don't believe that there is any tumour tho her feeling maybe as
if there was, but any degree of external tumour must I mean exter¬
nal to the oesophagus must be felt by your hand examining it.
I am perswaded that it has been originally a spasmodic constriction
and nothing else will account for its being relieved by pregnancy
and warm weather; but it is possible that there may now be a
thickening of
the coats of the œsophagus which will render the
cure more difficult. After the trials that have been I cannot
expect any thing from urging the Mercury farther especially
at this Season. The blistering was at first a probable remedy
and may be tried again but I would first try antispasmodics and
emollients. Let a little good Æther be applied on each side of the
Larynx
or a little below it so as to come ↑as↑ near to the œsophagus as
possible, and this may be tried twice a day keeping the throat con¬
stantly covered with a piece of fine and thick fur. If the soreness



[Page 2]

which you mention as formerly in the pharynx and mouth
be now so entirely gone that she bears the swallowing of some things
acrid as mustard; salt, spirits or such like I would let her swallow
a little æther diluted with water and according to what she bears ––
proceed farther. I once had a young Lady with a stricture of the Œso¬
phagus
which sometimes for a day or two entirely prevented swallow¬
ing but a little æther made its way and allowed other things to follow
By the repetition of this practice and the use of Laudanum the dis¬
ease was entirely cured. When Mrs Arnot ailment was recent
the latter remedy might perhaps have been of service but I cannot
expect benefit from it now when there is probably an angustatis from
a thickening of the coats and at least a rigidity of long contracted
fibres
. I wish you had been a little particular with regard to the
state of Mrs Arnots swallowing
. She certainly swallows some nou¬
rishment & pray tell me of what kind and consistence for this must
regulate some measures I might propose and therefore I shall say
no more now nor till I hear from you again but that I am
always

Dear William Your affectionate humble servant
William Cullen
Edinr. 9th Febry.
1782

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