The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:286] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Dr Alexander Taylor (Sanders) / Regarding: Mr James Orr (Patient) / 5 March 1782 / (Outgoing)
Letter to 'Sanders' [Alexander Taylor], concerning James Orr. Cullen believes his disease to be a suppuration in the liver. He provides a recipe for antiseptic pills. He writes regarding Spanish Sea Salt (also called 'Bay Salt' or 'Great Salt)' that 'as the people of Greenock have it imported for curing their Herrings for the West India Market, you can easily procure a small parcel for your use'. He says he will stop in Paisley on his way back from visiting Craigends.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 3 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
[Page 3]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 286 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/14/175 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 5 March 1782 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Machine scribal copy |
| Enclosure(s) | Enclosure(s) present |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | Yes |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Letter to 'Sanders' [Alexander Taylor], concerning James Orr. Cullen believes his disease to be a suppuration in the liver. He provides a recipe for antiseptic pills. He writes regarding Spanish Sea Salt (also called 'Bay Salt' or 'Great Salt)' that 'as the people of Greenock have it imported for curing their Herrings for the West India Market, you can easily procure a small parcel for your use'. He says he will stop in Paisley on his way back from visiting Craigends. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:553] |
Case of James Orr who has a venereal infection in 1778, but by 1782 has abdominal complaints and various bodily pains which Cullen eventually attributes to a disordered liver. |
13 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:207] | Addressee | Dr Alexander Taylor (Sanders) |
| [PERS ID:210] | Patient | Mr James Orr |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:207] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr Alexander Taylor (Sanders) |
| [PERS ID:742] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Lord (Judge) Robert Cullen (Lord Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:504] | Other | Mr Alexander Cuninghame (Cunninghame; of Craigends) |
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 | Paisley | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | inferred | |
| Mentioned / Other | Paisley | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Mentioned / Other | Craigends | Houston (Houstoun) | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
Mr James Orr.
I am favoured with yours
concerning Mr James Orr and tho I expect to be at
Paisley in the Course of this week where I may con¬
sult the Matter more fully, my Sons particular
regard for that Gentleman engages me to write
you in Course. 1
I am well persuaded that the disease is in the
Liver and that there is a Suppuration now going
on there, and that therefore neither bleeding nor
blistering are further admissable, nor even purging
further than is necessary to keep the belly regular
by a little Magnesia or Creme of Tartar.
When I come to Paisley I shall consider every
thing more minutely and in the mean time let
him keep as much as he can to a Milk Diet
and try the Pills prescribed on the other page.
The Spanish Sea Salt is that kind
[Page 2]
of Sea Salt which we commonly call Bay Salt
or Great Salt; and we have the most part of it
from Spain. I prescribed it as the most pure and
perfect Sea Salt, that we can have in this Country
and as the people of Greenock have it imported
for curring their Herrings for the West India
Market, you can easily procure a small parcel
for your use. I am always very much
I expect to pass through Paisley in my way to
Craigends on Thursday, but cannot stop then
but I propose to return on Friday and pass an
hour or two or three hours in Paisley.
[Page 3]
For Mr James Orr
Take 3 drachms of Liquorice extract. Having cut it into very small pieces, pour over enough spring water to soften it and crush it into a pulp, to which add a drachm of Myrrh, previously rubbed into a fine powder, and with enough spring water to make a mass to be divided into pills of 5 grains each. Label: Antiseptic Pills, three to be taken every night at bedtime.
Notes:
1: Although it is not stated which of the physician's sons is being referred to, because James Orr is in the legal profession, it has been assumed that he is a friend of Robert Cullen.
Diplomatic Text
Mr James Orr.
I am favoured with yours
concerning Mr James Orr and tho I expect to be at
Paisley in the Course of this week where I may con¬
sult the Matter more fully, my Sons particular
regard for that Gentleman engages me to write
you in Course. 1
I am well persuaded that the disease is in the
Liver and that there is a Suppuration now going
on there, and that therefore neither bleeding nor
blistering are further admissable, nor even purging
further than is necessary to keep the belly regular
by a little Magnesia or Creme of Tartar.
When I come to Paisley I shall consider every
thing more minutely and in the mean time let
him keep as much as he can to a Milk Diet
and try the Pills prescribed on the other page.
The Sal Marinus Hispanus is that kind
[Page 2]
of Sea Salt which we commonly call Bay Salt
or Great Salt; and we have the most part of it
from Spain. I prescribed it as the most pure and
perfect Sea Salt, that we can have in this Country
and as the people of Greenock have it imported
for curring their Herrings for the West India
Market, you can easily procure a small parcel
for your use. I am always very much
I expect to pass through Paisley in my way to
Craigends on Thursday, but cannot stop then
but I propose to return on Friday and pass an
hour or two or three hours in Paisley.
[Page 3]
For Mr James Orr
℞ Extract. glycyrrhiz ʒiij
In frustula conciso affunde Aq. font
q. s. ut mollescat et contundatur in
pulpam cui adde
Myrrh. prius in pulv. ten. trit. ʒj
et cum Aq. font. q. s. ut fiat Massa
dividenda in pilul. ing. gr V.
Sig. Antiseptic Pills, three to be
taken every night at bedtime.
Notes:
1: Although it is not stated which of the physician's sons is being referred to, because James Orr is in the legal profession, it has been assumed that he is a friend of Robert Cullen.
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