The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:3754] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: [ADDRESSEE UNKNOWN] / Regarding: Mrs Elizabeth Erskine (Hairstanes (Harestanes)) (Lady Alva; (as widow) Maxwell of Preston) (Patient) / 1774? / (Outgoing)
Reply 'For Lady Alva'
- 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 | 3754 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/5/17 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 1774? |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Authorial original |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | Yes |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply 'For Lady Alva' |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:144] |
Case of Lady Alva whose giddiness and other 'nervous' symptoms are attributed to gout. |
1 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:2376] | Patient | Mrs Elizabeth Erskine (Lady Alva; (as widow) Maxwell of Preston) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:2377] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Mr Wood |
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 |
Normalized Text
For Lady Alva
It is long since I suspected some disposition to the Gout
in Lady A.'s Constitution and I have no doubt that this
has produced the giddiness and other nervous Symptoms
which her Ladyship has so long complained of.
This Opinion has not been confirmed by any for¬
mal appearance of the Gout and I do not expect that
any thing of that kind will ever form because it has
now produced as it frequently does in the sex a gravel
in the kidneys.
This I think is the only ailment to be apprehended
by L. A. and my advice is chiefly directed to guard
against this but at the same time I am persuaded
that the Remedies and Regimen proposed are the best
for releiving all the Nervous Symptoms L A complains
of.
The first remedy to be employed is a powder of
which a dose is to be taken twice every day about an
hour before dinner and Supper. It may be taken or
with a little water or with a little Syrup made into a
bolus and swallowed in a wafer. There are only 14
doses sent because of these agree well with the
Stomach the doses for the next week must be made
a little larger and if the Stomach still bears them. The
[Page 2]
doses for the third week and fourth must be still
Larger agreable to the Directions given to Mr Wood.
In this way these Powders are to be continued for a
month but then laid aside to give place to another
Medicine which shall be directed according ↑to↑ the effects
observed of the former.
During the use of these Medicines the follo¬
wing Diet is to be observed, for Breakfast Her Stomach
may take Dry toast with fresh butter without
honey marmalade ↑jelly↑ or any such sweet thing. The
Tea should be the finest green made weak taken
cool and with as little sugar as may be agreeable.
The Dinner must be chiefly of Animal food by
and any kind of plain fresh meat may be taken
but the Lightest are best. When the Appetite is
good a little plain Soup with Bread should [by?] in
the dinner and any kind of Pudding may be take
it will be proper to take a good Deal of well
Leavened and well baked bread along with the [meat?].
All Roots Greens or Fruits are to be avoided.
All Salted meat or high seasoned are to be avoided.
Light fish ↑boiled↑ with a plain Sauce may be taken but not often
[Page 3]
All pickles, vinegar Lemon or Currant Jelly
are very improper. Mustard may be taken
freely and spiceries moderately, for Supper
an egg may be taken or some kind of grain
Rice, Barley, Sago [diest?] to her taste or
some sort of Light pancake. In Drink all
kinds of Wine or beer are improper, and either
plain water or with a little Spirits must be
taken as the Spirits Rum or Brandy will
do but a good Dutch [Germane?] is best of all.
Nothing better than keeping the Belly reg¬
ular and Nothing better for it than the Castor Oil.
In tolerable Weather nothing more service¬
able than frequent Gentle Exercise in a
Carriage but Driving fast in a rough road
to be carefully avoided.
Her Ladyship should at all times guard against
particularly in the feet & Legs.
Diplomatic Text
For Lady Alva
It is long since I suspected some disposition to the Gout
in Lady A.'s Constitution and I have no doubt that this
has produced the giddiness and other nervous Symptoms
which her Lad: has so long complained of.
This Opinion has not been confirmed by any for¬
mal appearance of the Gout and I do not expect that
any thing of that kind will ever form because it has
now produced as it frequently does in the sex a gravel
in the kidneys.
This I think is the only ailment to be apprehended
by L. A. and my advice is chiefly directed to guard
against this but at the same time I am persuaded
that the Remedies and Regimen proposed are the best
for releiving all the Nervous Symptoms L A complains
of.
The first remedy to be employed is a powder of
which a dose is to be taken twice every day about an
hour before dinner and Supper. It may be taken or
with a little water or with a little Syrup made into a
bolus and swallowed in a wafer. There are only 14
doses sent because of these agree well with the
Stomach the doses for the next week must be made
a little larger and if the Stomach still bears them. The
[Page 2]
doses for the third week and fourth must be still
Larger agreable to the Directions given to Mr Wood.
In this way these Powders are to be continued for a
month but then laid aside to give place to another
Medicine which shall be directed according ↑to↑ the effects
observed of the former.
During the use of these Medicines the follo¬
wing Diet is to be observed, for Breakfast Her S.
may take Dry toast with fresh butter without
honey marmalade ↑jelly↑ or any such sweet thing. The
Tea should be the finest green made weak taken
cool and with as little sugar as may be agreeable.
The Dinner must be chiefly of Animal food by
and any kind of plain fresh meat may be taken
but the Lightest are best. When the Appetite is
good a little plain Soup with Bread should [by?] in
the dinner and any kind of Pudding may be take
it will be proper to take a good Deal of well
Leavened and well baked bread along with the [meat?].
All Roots Greens or Fruits are to be avoided.
All Salted meat or high seasoned are to be avoided.
Light fish ↑boiled↑ with a plain Sauce may be taken but not often
[Page 3]
All pickles, vinegar Lemon or Currant Jelly
are very improper. Mustard may be taken
freely and spiceries moderately, for Supper
an egg may be taken or some kind of grain
Rice, Barley, Sago [diest?] to her taste or
some sort of Light pancake. In Drink all
kinds of Wine or beer are improper, and either
plain water or with a little Spirits must be
taken as the Spirits Rum or Brandy will
do but a good Dutch [Germane?] is best of all.
Nothing better than keeping the Belly reg¬
ular and Nothing better for it than the Castor Oil.
In tolerable Weather nothing more service¬
able than frequent Gentle Exercise in a
Carriage but Driving fast in a rough road
to be carefully avoided.
Her Ls should at all times guard against
particularly in the feet & Legs.
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