The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:3857] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Dr John Gilchrist (of Speddoch) / Regarding: Mr Alexander Spalding Gordon (Spalding, of The Holme & Shirmers) (Patient) / 6 July 1776 / (Outgoing)
Reply 'To Mr Spalding Gordon',. Advice for his physician [identified as Dr John Gilchrist of Dumfries] in response to Letter ID:1305 and its enclosures, as his symptoms seem to have become worse. Recipes include an eyewash.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 3 images for this document.
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Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 3857 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/7/78 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 6 July 1776 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Authorial original |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | Yes |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply 'To Mr Spalding Gordon',. Advice for his physician [identified as Dr John Gilchrist of Dumfries] in response to Letter ID:1305 and its enclosures, as his symptoms seem to have become worse. Recipes include an eyewash. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:4] |
Case of Mr Alexander Spalding Gordon who has a venereal infection in 1775; in 1776 he has a swollen ankle and toe assumed to be gouty; and in 1784 he is suffering from the after-effects of an accidental pistol wound. |
18 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:115] | Addressee | Dr John Gilchrist (of Speddoch) |
| [PERS ID:629] | Patient | Mr Alexander Spalding Gordon (Spalding, of The Holme & Shirmers) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:115] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr John Gilchrist (of Speddoch) |
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 | Dumfries | Borders | Scotland | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
For Mr Spalding Gordon
By the journal of last week it does not appear that his
S Symptoms are worse, but it appears both from the
journal & other accounts, that his worst symptom
is extreme weakness, & even to that I impute any
little increase of the frequency of his pulse, & even the
inflammation of his Eye.
In this view of things, while we cant take the most
effectual measures of air & exercise, we must now
take such measures ↑as↑ are compatible with his
present situation. Upon this plan I would give
him a little Claret so much as he finds comfortable
& is not found to heat him: -- I would also make his
Broth a little stronger, give him Calfs head jelly
& a little animal with more freedom then I could
have done before. With this regimen, let him have
the Tincture prescribed on tother Page. There is
not time for preparing it in Town, but ↑I think↑ It is not
possible that any surgeon in the Country can want
either the materials or the means of it. I am glad
[Page 2]
find the Castor Oil, answer & I hope it will answere
in a smaller dose than the last did tried. If by this
or any other means we can have the command of
his belly, I would try to support him by a dose
of Laudanum at night. Five Drops cant be
of service it must be to the length of fifteen
or twenty, & if no peculiarity of constitution
forbid it, I would prefer the larger dose to the
smaller, & if the first trials be not discouraging I
would repeat & support, perhaps increase the dose;
but you shall have more both on this subject & the
use of the Bark upon my getting next report.
Take half an ounce of powdered Peruvian Bark. In a glass or marble mortar, mix thoroughly for an hour with enough spring water as to make semiliquid, then add up to a pint of spring water. Replace in flask, steep for 12 hours, then strain through paper. Label: Strengthening Infusion, an ounce or two as his stomach bears it, to be taken twice or thrice a day about an hour before meals.
N.B. Before filtering the above let two
ounces of the Brandy Ticture of bark be added
to it.
[Page 3]
For Mr S. Gordon.
℞ Take 8 ounces of Rosewater, half an ounce of Vinegar Distillate, and 2 scruples of Sugar of Lead. Dissolve and strain through paper. Label: Eye water for washing the Eyes three times a day.
Take 4 ounces of fresh Castor Oil. Label: Castor Oil.
Diplomatic Text
For Mr Spalding Gordon
By ye journal of last week it does not appear yt his
S Symptoms are worse, but it appears both from ye
journal & other accounts, yt his worst symptom
is extreme weakness, & even to yt I impute any
little increase of ye frequency of his pulse, & even ye
inflammation of his Eye.
In this view of things, while we cant take ye most
effectual measures of air & exercise, we must now
take such measures ↑as↑ are compatible wt his
present situation. Upon this plan I would give
him a little Claret so much as he finds comfortable
& is not found to heat him: -- I would also make his
Broth a little stronger, give him Calfs head jelly
& a little animal wt more freedom then I could
have done before. Wt this regimen, let him have
ye Tincture prescribed on tother Page. There is
not time for preparing it in Town, but ↑I think↑ It is not
possible yt any surgeon in ye Country can want
either ye materials or ye means of it. I am glad
[Page 2]
find ye Castor Oil, answer & I hope it will answere
in a smaller dose than ye last did tried. If by this
or any other means we can have ye command of
his belly, I would try to support him by a dose
of Laudanum at night. Five Drops cant be
of service it must be to ye length of fifteen
or twenty, & if no peculiarity of constitution
forbid it, I would prefer ye larger dose to ye
smaller, & if ye first trials be not discouraging I
would repeat & support, perhaps increase ye dose;
but you shall have more both on ys subject & ye
use of ye Bark upon my getting next report.
℞ Pulv. Cort. Peruvian ℥ſs
In mortario vitreo vel marmorea, cum Aquæ
fontis q. s ut fiat semiliquida, terito diligenter
per horam dein adde
Aq. font. ad lbi
Reponatur in lagena et macera horas duo¬
decim dein cola per chartam
Signa Strengthening Infusion, an ounce or
two as his stomach bears it, to be taken twice
or thrice a day about an hour before meals.
N.B. Before filtering ye above let two
ounces of ye Brandy Ticture of bark be added
to it.
[Page 3]
For Mr S. Gordon.
℞ Aq. rosar ℥viii
Acet. distillat. ℥ſs
Scch. Saturn Эii
Solve et per chartam cola
Signa Eye water for washing ye Eyes three times
Ol. ricin. recent. ℥iv
Signa Castor Oil.
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