The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:326] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Dr Alexander Stevenson (Professor; of Dalgairn ) / Regarding: Mrs Janet Murdoch (Bogle) (Patient) / 25 August 1775 / (Outgoing)
Reply, 'For Mr Murdoch', concerning his wife. Cullen relates that Mrs Murdoch is in danger of phthisis, although as yet he 'cannot declare purulency or he[c]tic'. As she believes 'her ailment is very much about the top of the tongue', she must be humoured about this. Cullen sends a letter directly to her, open, to Stevenson, so that 'we might not differ about small matters'. In a postscript, he adds that since Mrs Murdoch complains of toothache, she should 'get quit of every spoild Tooth'.
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Facsimile
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[Page 1]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 326 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/6/27 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 25 August 1775 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Scribal copy ( includes Casebook Entry) |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | Yes |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply, 'For Mr Murdoch', concerning his wife. Cullen relates that Mrs Murdoch is in danger of phthisis, although as yet he 'cannot declare purulency or he[c]tic'. As she believes 'her ailment is very much about the top of the tongue', she must be humoured about this. Cullen sends a letter directly to her, open, to Stevenson, so that 'we might not differ about small matters'. In a postscript, he adds that since Mrs Murdoch complains of toothache, she should 'get quit of every spoild Tooth'. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:556] |
Case of Mrs Murdoch at Rosebank, who is given a regimen after seeing Cullen in person; swollen ankles not considered serious, but has consumption; also needs some teeth extracting. |
2 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:563] | Addressee | Dr Alexander Stevenson (Professor; of Dalgairn ) |
| [PERS ID:1537] | Patient | Mrs Janet Murdoch |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:563] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr Alexander Stevenson (Professor; of Dalgairn ) |
| [PERS ID:1536] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Mr George Murdoch (Provost Murdoch) |
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
For Mrs Murdoch
Provost Murdoch & Mrs Murdoch passed this way yesterday --
proposed to be at home this night & will desire to see you on Sunday. At their
desire I write you my opinion of the case & what shall be the Conduct of it. I
think she is in danger of Phthisis & tho’ I cannot yet declare purulency
or hetic there appearances of both. I would & we must take measures to
obviate as well as we can. I think a pea issue put in on each side of the nape
of the neck may be of service. She is strongly persuaded that her ailment is very much
about the top of the tongue & tho I am well persuaded of the falacy of her feelings I would
humour her so far as to advise flannel about her neck & to have the fore part of it anointed
every night & morning with the following.
Take 2 ounces of the best Olive Oil, 2 drachms of Sassafras Oil, and a drachm of Caustic Spirit of Ammoniac Salts. Mix --
In persons liable to such constant hawking
I find it of great service to keep the throat constantly moist by swallowing very
frequently a spoonful of water which may be medicated by a little gum arabic & a
very little Balsamic syrup. To prevent her night fevers I would try to give fre¬
quently at bedtime a small dose of Tartar emetic in a draught or a small dose of
James Powder either of them
until a very light nausea. If they sweat a little
there is no harm if she continues to observe that after sweating in the night her days are
much better you may try sometimes to add the Thebaic Tincture to your Evening doses.
The swelling of her ankles is I think of little consequence while her urine is com¬
monly in due quantity & tho’ the symptoms was more considerable I think she can
hardly admitt of the effectual remedies. However she is alarmed with this symptom & we
must prescribe for it. You may try a pil of dried squill & fresh millepedæ & if her
stomach bears it well & you can observe any diuretic effects you will push it
accordingly. These are the remedies I can suggest at present but you will pro¬
bably be of my mind that they will do little without exercise & attention to diet.
On this subject she beged me to write to herself, and I have accordingly done so
but that we might not differ about small matters I send my letter open to you.
I suppose we are to correspond upon this subject & therefore no more & c
If I remember Right Mrs. Murdoch complains of Toothach every night.
If she does I beg she may get quit of every spoild Tooth ----
Diplomatic Text
For Mrs Murdoch
Provost Murdoch & Mrs Murdoch passed this way yesterday --
proposed to be at home this night & will desire to see you on Sunday. At their
desire I write you my opinion of the case & what shall be the Conduct of it. I
think she is in danger of Phthisis & tho’ I cannot yet declare purulency
or hetic there appearances of both. I would & we must take measures to
obviate as well as we can. I think a pea issue put in on each side of the nape
of the neck may be of service. She is strongly persuaded that her ailment is very much
about the top of the tongue & tho I am well persuaded of the falacy of her feelings I would
humour her so far as to advise flannel about her neck & to have the fore part of it anointed
every night & morng wt ye following.
℞ Ol. Olivar. opt. ℥ii Ol. Sassafras ʒii
Sp.t Sal. ammon. caustic. ʒi ℳ. --
In persons liable to such constant hawking
I find it of great service to keep the throat constantly moist by swallowing very
frequently a spoonful of water which may be medicated by a little gum arabic & a
very little Balsamic syrup. To prevent her night fevers I would try to give fre¬
quently at bedtime a small dose of Tartar emetic in a draught or a small dose of
James Powder either of ym.
ad levissimam nauseam tantum. If they sweat a little
there is no harm if she continues to observe that after sweating in the night her days are
much better you may try sometimes to add the Tinct: Thebaic. to your Evg doses.
The swelling of her ankles is I think of little consequence while her urine is com¬
monly in due quantity & tho’ the symptoms was more considerable I think she can
hardly admitt of the effectual remedies. However she is alarmed wt. ys. symptom & we
must prescribe for it. You may try a pil of dried squill & fresh millepedæ & if her
stomach bears it well & you can observe any diuretic effects you will push it
accordingly. These are the remedies I can suggest at present but you will pro¬
bably be of my mind that they will do little without exercise & attention to diet.
On this subject she beged me to write to herself, and I have accordingly done so
but that we might not differ about small matters I send my letter open to you.
I suppose we are to correspond upon this subject & therefore no more & c
If I remember Right Mrs. Murdoch complains of Toothach every night.
If she does I beg she may get quit of every spoild Tooth ----
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