
The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:3500] From: Mr John Goodsir / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Mr John Bethune (Lindsay) (Lindsay of Wormiston; after 1782, Bethune of Kilconquhar/Balfour) (Patient) / 20 April 1789 / (Incoming)
Letter from John Goodsir to William and Henry Cullen, concerning the case of Mr Bethune, whose symptoms seem to be 'rather more favourable'.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 4 images for this document.

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Metadata
Field | Data |
---|---|
DOC ID | 3500 |
RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/2392 |
Main Language | English |
Document Direction | Incoming |
Date | 20 April 1789 |
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 John Goodsir to William and Henry Cullen, concerning the case of Mr Bethune, whose symptoms seem to be 'rather more favourable'. |
Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
Evidence of Commercial Posting | Yes |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
---|---|---|
[Case ID:196] |
Case of John (Lindsay) Bethune of Kilconquhar, being reported almost daily by his surgeon John Goodsir. |
24 |
People linked to this document
Person ID | Role in document | Person |
---|---|---|
[PERS ID:1301] | Author | Mr John Goodsir |
[PERS ID:1] | Addressee | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
[PERS ID:464] | Patient | Mr John Bethune (Lindsay of Wormiston; after 1782, Bethune of Kilconquhar/Balfour) |
[PERS ID:1301] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Mr John Goodsir |
[PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
[PERS ID:544] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr Henry Cullen (Harry, Dr Henry, "the young doctor" ) |
[PERS ID:4164] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Miss Anne, Alison or Elizabeth Lindsay |
[PERS ID:544] | Supplemental Addressee | Dr Henry Cullen (Harry, Dr Henry, "the young doctor" ) |
Places linked to this document
Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Place of Writing | Largo | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
Destination of Letter | The University of Edinburgh | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Mentioned / Other | Kilconquhar House | Kilconquhar | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
Yesterday I was favourd with
yours of the 18th.- Since the report on the 16th-
Mr. Bethune has taken the Electuary, Nitre and
Squills regularly , in that report I said, had fix'd
with Mr. Bethune to take three or four five grain
doses of Nitre daily & at Bedtime with the Squills
which he has done the Squills now also we have
encreased to full gram & an half dayly, they set
well since the Emetic- At first I gave Mr. Bethune
the Nitre and Laudenam in the form of a Mixture
which his Stomach at that time rejected- I then
disolved the Nitre in a little water & Sugar and
immediately after gave the Laudenam in a little
water at this time he observ'd it and insisted
to know what it was and then would not take it
I must here say that Mr. Bethune has been at
times backward to take Medicine--
Since the report on the 16th Mr. Bethunes Symptomes
upon the whole have been more rather more
favourable, still no Drought, nor dryness in the
[Page 2]
mouth now, Urine somewhat encreased within
these two days, Swelling on the Limbs pritty
much the same, that degree of Flabby Swelling
as mentioned in last report the same on the
Thighs the same, Sleeps better in the night
since last report- Appetite also better- In good
Spirits and Countenance much more natural
Night before last fell into a profuse Sweat with
out any known Cause, especially upon the lower
Extremities and when going to Bed & also yester¬
day Morning discovered his Urine to have a
Natural smell which he has not before ob¬
servd since the Disease began- Two days ago
also he observed upon the upper part of the
Legs & lower part of the thighs a number
of red pimples scattered about- He now
takes exercise very regularly- I must beg
leave to say that your letters being sent to
Miss. Lindsay would ↑not↑ have any effect in the
point you mention My time is so much
[Page 3]
circumscribd that I am not regularly at
any one place at a certain time, sometimes
at Kilconquhar House thro' the night & sometimes
at my own House- One thing I am certain of
I have never been remiss when yours come
to my hand as far as it was in my power
to answer them immediately the first convenient
hour
I am Dear Gentlemen,
Your very Humble & Obedient Servant
[Page 4]
Doctor Cullen
Professor of Medicine
University of Edinburgh
Diplomatic Text
Yesterday I was favourd with
yours of the 18th.- Since the report on the 16th-
Mr. Bethune has taken the Electuary, Nitre and
Squills regularly , in that report I said, had fix'd
with Mr. Bethune to take three or four five grain
doses of Nitre daily & at Bedtime with the Squills
which he has done the Squills now also we have
encreased to full gram & an half dayly, they set
well since the Emetic- At first I gave Mr. Bethune
the Nitre and Laudenam in the form of a Mixture
which his Stomach at that time rejected- I then
disolved the Nitre in a little water & Sugar and
immediately after gave the Laudenam in a little
water at this time he observ'd it and insisted
to know what it was and then would not take it
I must here say that Mr. Bethune has been at
times backward to take Medicine--
Since the report on the 16th Mr. Bethunes Symptomes
upon the whole have been more rather more
favourable, still no Drought, nor dryness in the
[Page 2]
mouth now, Urine somewhat encreased within
these two days, Swelling on the Limbs pritty
much the same, that degree of Flabby Swelling
as mentioned in last report the same on the
Thighs the same, Sleeps better in the night
since last report- Appetite also better- In good
Spirits and Countenance much more natural
Night before last fell into a profuse Sweat with
out any known Cause, especially upon the lower
Extremities and when going to Bed & also yester¬
day Morning discovered his Urine to have a
Natural smell which he has not before ob¬
servd since the Disease began- Two days ago
also he observed upon the upper part of the
Legs & lower part of the thighs a number
of red pimples scattered about- He now
takes exercise very regularly- I must beg
leave to say that your letters being sent to
Miss. Lindsay would ↑not↑ have any effect in the
point you mention My time is so much
[Page 3]
circumscribd that I am not regularly at
any one place at a certain time, sometimes
at Kilconqr. House thro' the night & sometimes
at my own House- One thing I am certain of
I have never been remiss when yours come
to my hand as far as it was in my power
to answer them immediately the first convenient
hour
I am Dear Gentlemen,
Your very Hube. & Obt. Servt.
[Page 4]
Doctor Cullen
Professor of Medicine
University of Edinr.
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