The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:3622] From: [AUTHOR UNKNOWN] / To: Dr Henry Cullen (Harry, Dr Henry, "the young doctor" ) / Regarding: Mr George Burdon (Patient) / 15 January 1790 / (Incoming)
Letter to Henry Cullen, from Hannah Burdon concerning the case of her husband, George Burdon. Mrs Burdon fears her husband had not been very particular in his last letter to Henry Cullen and so took it upon herself to write to the doctor in secret. She requests Cullen address his reply to her daughter, Mrs Otway.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 4 images for this document.
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[Page 2]
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Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 3622 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/2510 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Incoming |
| Date | 15 January 1790 |
| 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 to Henry Cullen, from Hannah Burdon concerning the case of her husband, George Burdon. Mrs Burdon fears her husband had not been very particular in his last letter to Henry Cullen and so took it upon herself to write to the doctor in secret. She requests Cullen address his reply to her daughter, Mrs Otway. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | Yes |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:968] |
Case of George Burdon who has a long-standing rheumatic complaint, develops bloody urine, suspected gravel and who eventually passes a large stone. |
11 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:544] | Addressee | Dr Henry Cullen (Harry, Dr Henry, "the young doctor" ) |
| [PERS ID:4763] | Patient | Mr George Burdon |
| [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:4780] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Mrs Otway |
| [PERS ID:4779] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Mrs Hannah Burdon |
Places linked to this document
| Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Writing | Newcastle upon Tyne | North-East | England | Europe | certain | |
| Destination of Letter | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Mentioned / Other | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Place of Handstamp | Newcastle upon Tyne | North-East | England | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
Newcastle January the 15th 90
Sr
I take the liberty of addressing
you on my Husbands account, who show'd
me a Letter from you the other Day, by
which I fear he had not been so very
particular in his, to you, as he ought
to have been; my anxiety is so great
for his Health, that I hope it will
plead my excuse for the trouble I
now give you, nor do's he know of
my writing; his complaint is now with¬
out much pain, but from its continuance
makes me very unhappy. In the Summer
had often rode 10 miles on Horseback
as he has parted with his Chair for a
Chaise; nor did he then think it hurt
him much; but the Roads were often
too bad for a Carriage; I think it was
the Winter after He had wrote to your
Father he was very ill, & suffer'd much
pain for near a week, was ordr'd
into a hott Bath, & passd a Stone
nearly the Shape of an almond but
not near so large; since which time
he hath took vast quantitys of a {illeg}
[Page 2]
Solvant & then at least 3 Bottles of Blackberry
he for very long took' took' the Alkeline
Water but last Summer found it too' violent
for him perhaps owing to the having taken
so very many [ruggid?] quack medicines & with¬
in these 2 months he made the Alkaline water
with Quick Lime instead of Chalk which I
own I wondered much at & askd his reason for it
but I coud not find out that he had ever heard
of its being done & I much fear he hath
found the bad effects of it by his weakening
complaint; which still continues in a great
degree he was so very ill Just before he
wrote to you as to be oblig'd to apply to
one of our Physicians; who had orderd
a draught of Spermiciti & other softning
medicines; but as he only found a temporary
relief from them he then wrote to your Father
whose advice he hath the greatest opinion
of; & sorry he was not to have been at home
when he was here about 3 years ago; & has
often wish'd for time to go down to Edinburgh
to consult with him he once talkd of going
down in the Mail but that I'm sure woud be far
to violent exercise in his situation if you can
think of any thing may be of use be so good as ad¬
dress your Letter to my Daughter Mrs. Otway who is now
with us; in case he shoud be worse as I do not
[Page 3]
to tell him I have wrote to you, I am with best wishes
for the worthy Doctors Health
Sir your obedient
Humble Servant
Hannah Burdon
Mrs. Otway Geo: Burdons --
P:S:
Mr. Burdon is gone 24 Miles
to Day in the worst Roads we
have, & I much fear it will
make him worse; he hath' took
a paper every Night for some
time of an herb Dr. Cullen recommended
calld Uwesa; he seems now to think that
any thing of the healing or stiptick kind
is best; & if you are so good as think
of any thing that might be of use when
I find him worse shall tell him how I
came by it;
[Page 4]
Docter Cullen junior
Edinburgh ----
Mrs. Burdon
Concerning Mr. Burdon
January 1790
V. XX. P.
Diplomatic Text
Newcastle Jan ye 15th 90
Sr
I take the liberty of addressing
you on my Husbands account, who show'd
me a Letter from you the other Day, by
which I fear he had not been so very
particular in his, to you, as he ought
to have been; my anxiety is so great
for his Health, that I hope it will
plead my excuse for the trouble I
now give you, nor do's he know of
my writing; his complaint is now with¬
out much pain, but from its continuance
makes me very unhappy. In the Summer
had often rode 10 miles on Horseback
as he has parted with his Chair for a
Chaise; nor did he then think it hurt
him much; but the Roads were often
too bad for a Carriage; I think it was
the Winter after He had wrote to yr
Father he was very ill, & suffer'd much
pain for near a week, was ordr'd
into a hott Bath, & passd a Stone
nearly ye. Shape of an almond but
not near so large; since which time
he hath took vast quantitys of a {illeg}
[Page 2]
Solvant & then at least 3 Bottles of Blackberry
he for very long took' took' ye Alkeline
Water but last Summer found it too' violent
for him perhaps owing to the having taken
so very many [ruggid?] quack medicines & with¬
in these 2 months he made ye. Alkaline water
with Quick Lime instead of Chalk which I
own I wondered much at & askd his reason for it
but I coud not find out that he had ever heard
of its being done & I much fear he hath
found ye. bad effects of it by his weakening
complaint; which still continues in a great
degree he was so very ill Just before he
wrote to you as to be oblig'd to apply to
one of our Physicians; who had orderd
a draught of Spermiciti & other softning
medicines; but as he only found a temporary
relief from them he then wrote to yr. Father
whose advice he hath the greatest opinion
of; & sorry he was not to have been at home
when he was here about 3 years ago; & has
often wish'd for time to go down to Edinburgh
to consult with him he once talkd of going
down in ye. Mail but that I'm sure woud be far
to violent exercise in his situation if you can
think of any thing may be of use be so good as ad¬
dress yr. Letter to my Daughter Mrs. Otway who is now
with us; in case he shoud be worse as I do not
[Page 3]
to tell him I have wrote to you, I am with best wishes
for the worthy Doctors Health
Sr. your obdt
Humble. Servant
Hannah Burdon
Mrs. Otway Geo: Burdons --
P:S:
Mr. Burdon is gone 24 Miles
to Day in ye. worst Roads we
have, & I much fear it will
make him worse; he hath' took
a paper every Night for some
time of an herb Dr. Cullen recommended
calld Uwesa; he seems now to think that
any thing of the healing or stiptick kind
is best; & if you are so good as think
of any thing that might be of use when
I find him worse shall tell him how I
came by it;
[Page 4]
Docter Cullen junr
Edinburgh ----
Mrs. Burdon
C Mr. Burdon
Jany. 1790
V. XX. P.
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