The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:3992] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Quintin Thomson / Regarding: Mr John Caldwell (Patient) / 4 February 1777 / (Outgoing)
Reply [to Quintin Thomson] concerning 'Mr John Caldwell ---- a ☾tic' (i.e. 'lunatic'). Recommendations for the care of John Caldwell (identified as a pupil of Cullen, in later correspondence) once he is taken to the country. Upstairs windows are to be screwed down and weapons kept out of reach. Cullen advises when he may need a 'waistcoat' (straitjacket).
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 2 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 3992 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/8/104 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 4 February 1777 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Scribal copy ( includes Casebook Entry) |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | Yes |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply [to Quintin Thomson] concerning 'Mr John Caldwell ---- a ☾tic' (i.e. 'lunatic'). Recommendations for the care of John Caldwell (identified as a pupil of Cullen, in later correspondence) once he is taken to the country. Upstairs windows are to be screwed down and weapons kept out of reach. Cullen advises when he may need a 'waistcoat' (straitjacket). |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:583] |
Case of John Caldwell, 'a lunatic'. |
2 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:1706] | Addressee | Quintin Thomson |
| [PERS ID:666] | Patient | Mr John Caldwell |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:1706] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Quintin Thomson |
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 | Maybole | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
Mr John Caldwell ---- a lunatic
When he goes to the country if his chamber is up stairs
the windows must be screwed down & every offensive
weapon taken out of his way.
If he is tolerably calm the waistcoat not necessary
& only a man of sufficient strength always about him,
& if this man can acquire some authority over him more
violent restraint will not be necessary --
If outrageous he must get on the waistcoat, &
this will prevent him from doing any harm either to
himself or others & will soon render him manageable
After he has been a day or two at home M Mr S. ad ℥xii 1
or as the fullness & frequency of his pulse seems to require.
If notwiths If notwithstanding the bleeding his pulse continues
full & frequent Applicr. Empl. Episp. capite raso et pars
servetur aperta. 2 --
At the same time let him be purged for several
times every second or third day. The most proper Purgative
would be the Tartar Emetic dissolved in water & he
should take half a grain every hour till ↑it↑ either
make him sick or begin to purge him. After being
purged by the Tart. Em. for two or three times I would
try & get him to take from half an ounce to an
ounce of Soluble Tartar dissolved in water or whey
[Page 2]
every morning. – The dose of the Sol. Tart. should
keep his belly easy but not purge him.
The repetition of the bleeding & blistering must
be left to the discretion of some practitioner on the
spot. Diet no animal food; -- but milk
grain & vegetables – No fermented or spirituous
liquors – Water or watery liquors alone ----
If he is brought very low by these measures &
seems to be recovering his Diet may be gradually
mended.
If his Delirium continues - fresh air & Exercise will
do no good – but if he grows calmer – he may be the
better for going abroad a little, but care must be
taken not to let him be affected by any particu¬
lar objects &.cc
If notwithstanding repeated Evacuations his
Delirium continues, it may be proper to try
Cold bathing
1777
Diplomatic Text
Mr John Caldwell ---- a ☾tic
When he goes to the country if his chamber is up stairs
the windows must be screwed down & every offensive
weapon taken out of his way.
If he is tolerably calm the waistcoat not necessary
& only a man of sufficient strength always about him,
& if this man can acquire some authority over him more
violent restraint will not be necessary --
If outrageous he must get on the waistcoat, &
this will prevent him from doing any harm either to
himself or others & will soon render him manageable
After he has been a day or two at home M Mr S. ad ℥xii 1
or as the fullness & frequency of his pulse seems to require.
If notwiths If notwithstanding the bleedg his pulse conts
full & freqt. Applicr. Empl. Episp. capite raso et pars
servetur aperta. 2 --
At the same time let him be purged for several
times every second or third day. The most proper Purgat.
would be the Tartar Emetic dissolved in water & he
should take half a grain every hour till ↑it↑ either
make him sick or begin to purge him. After being
purged by the Tart. Em. for two or three times I would
try & get him to take from half an ounce to an
ounce of Soluble Tartar dissolved in water or whey
[Page 2]
every morng. – The dose of the Sol. Tart. should
keep his belly easy but not purge him.
The repetition of the bleeding & blistering must
be left to the discretion of some practitioner on the
spot. Diet no animal food; -- but milk
grain & vegetables – No fermented or spirituous
liquors – Water or watery liquors alone ----
If he is brought very low by these measures &
seems to be recovering his Diet may be gradually
mended.
If his Delirium conts - fresh air & Exercise will
do no good – but if he grows calmer – he may be the
better for going abroad a little, but care must be
taken not to let him be affected by any particu¬
lar objects &.cc
If notwithstanding repeated Evacuations his
Delirium continues, it may be proper to try
Cold bathing
1777
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