The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:309] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Mr William Turnbull / Regarding: Reverend Cuthbert Allen (Allan; of Wooler) (Patient) / 21 June 1775 / (Outgoing)
Directions 'For Reverend Allen', whose condition Cullen supposes to result from a blockage in the kidneys. 'To obviate and possibly cure' the patient, he recommends 'caustic' [Lixivium], alongside a diet with no fish or heavy meats. Gentle exercise, including horse-riding, is paramount. Doc:1148 reveals that Allen had visited Cullen in person on the recommendation of his local practitioner, Dr William Turnbull at Wooler. Cullen's typically formal mode of address makes is difficult to ascertain if these directions were being written up for Turnbull or exclusively for Allen (who may have been handed them in person).
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- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
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Facsimile
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Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 309 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/6/10 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 21 June 1775 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Scribal copy ( includes Casebook Entry) |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Directions 'For Reverend Allen', whose condition Cullen supposes to result from a blockage in the kidneys. 'To obviate and possibly cure' the patient, he recommends 'caustic' [Lixivium], alongside a diet with no fish or heavy meats. Gentle exercise, including horse-riding, is paramount. Doc:1148 reveals that Allen had visited Cullen in person on the recommendation of his local practitioner, Dr William Turnbull at Wooler. Cullen's typically formal mode of address makes is difficult to ascertain if these directions were being written up for Turnbull or exclusively for Allen (who may have been handed them in person). |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1] |
Case of the Reverend Mr Cuthbert Allen of Wooler, suffering from consumption, and later anasarca and a hernia to his scrotum. |
8 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:2837] | Addressee | Mr William Turnbull |
| [PERS ID:1310] | Patient | Reverend Cuthbert Allen (Allan; of Wooler) |
| [PERS ID:2837] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Mr William Turnbull |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr 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 | Wooler | North-East | England | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
For The Revd. Mr. Allen
I am persuaded that Mr. Allens complaints depend upon Sand
sticking in his kidneys not entirely obstructing these but exciting spasms
which give some degree of Ischuria renalis.
To obviate and possibly cure this I advise a course of the Caustic Lix¬
ivium in broth, the management of which I suppose is well known to Mr.
Turnbull. I would have the course continud for at least a month & if it has
not all the effect we would wish I would after intermitting it a fortnight
repeat the course for another month as it often requires even a longer
time to make a cure. During the course I would give no other diuretic
or any other medicine except it may be a laxative to keep his belly
regular.
During the intermission of the course of Lixivium some gentle
diuretics may be employed, and I think garlick one of the most
proper to be taken freely in any shape most agreeable to him that is
in substance in Pills or in Syrup.
These medicines shall I hope be of service to him but they will not
unless his regimen is at same time properly ordered.
In diet he must avoid Fish & all fat and heavy meats. He may
take a bit off any plain meat at dinner but must take animal
food very moderately filling up his meal with broth pudding & some
part no great portions of Garden seeds things. He must abstain from
all salted meats must take all spiceries except mustard very sparing
& must avoid entirely all pickles & [curds?] of all kinds
For ordinary drink he must take water alone only if it may be the
better for being boil'd with a little Gum Arabic & cooled again. The Gum
may be about two drams to a quart of water.
All kinds of malt liquors are improper & spirits in every shape
are pernicious. He may take at times a little red port wine but
that must be a little only and most other wines will do harm.
Nothing is more necessary for him than gentle exercise, it
should be frequent but always very gentle. The best will be going
in Horseback in the forenoons & walking a little after dinner. ~
Walking if either fast, much uphill or pushed to fatigue may do him
much harm in several respects. (signed / William Cullen 1
Notes:
1: This particular form of words confirms that this entry is not being made by Cullen himself, but by a copyist.
Diplomatic Text
For The Revd. Mr. Allen
I am persuaded that Mr. Allens complaints depend upon Sand
sticking in his kidneys not entirely obstructing these but exciting spasms
which give some degree of Ischuria renalis.
To obviate and possibly cure this I advise a course of the Caustic Lix¬
ivium in broth, the management of which I suppose is well known to Mr.
Turnbull. I would have the course continud for at least a month & if it has
not all the effect we would wish I would after intermitting it a fortnight
repeat the course for another month as it often requires even a longer
time to make a cure. During the course I would give no other diuretic
or any other medicine except it may be a laxative to keep his belly
regular.
During the intermission of the course of Lixivium some gentle
diuretics may be employed, and I think garlick one of the most
proper to be taken freely in any shape most agreeable to him that is
in substance in Pills or in Syrup.
These medicines shall I hope be of service to him but they will not
unless his regimen is at same time properly ordered.
In diet he must avoid Fish & all fat and heavy meats. He may
take a bit off any plain meat at dinner but must take animal
food very moderately filling up his meal with broth pudding & some
part no great portions of Garden seeds things. He must abstain from
all salted meats must take all spiceries except mustard very sparing
& must avoid entirely all pickles & [curds?] of all kinds
For ordinary drink he must take water alone only if it may be the
better for being boil'd with a little Gum Arabic & cooled again. The Gum
may be about two drams to a quart of water.
All kinds of malt liquors are improper & spirits in every shape
are pernicious. He may take at times a little red port wine but
that must be a little only and most other wines will do harm.
Nothing is more necessary for him than gentle exercise, it
should be frequent but always very gentle. The best will be going
in Horseback in the forenoons & walking a little after dinner. ~
Walking if either fast, much uphill or pushed to fatigue may do him
much harm in several respects. (signed / William Cullen 1
Notes:
1: This particular form of words confirms that this entry is not being made by Cullen himself, but by a copyist.
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