The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:4055] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Dr Alexander Stevenson (Professor; of Dalgairn ) / Regarding: Mr John McDowall (McDoual) (Patient) / 9 May 1777 / (Outgoing)
Reply [to Dr Alexander Stevenson] 'For Mr Macdoual'.
- 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 | 4055 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/9/28 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 9 May 1777 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Scribal copy ( includes Casebook Entry) |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | Yes |
| Regimen | Yes |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply [to Dr Alexander Stevenson] 'For Mr Macdoual'. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:724] |
Case of Mr McDowall [Douall], who developed a rheumatic complaint while in America, followed by other episodes of illness, including an injured leg from being knocked into by a horse. |
4 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:563] | Addressee | Dr Alexander Stevenson (Professor; of Dalgairn ) |
| [PERS ID:576] | Patient | Mr John McDowall (McDoual) |
| [PERS ID:563] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr Alexander Stevenson (Professor; of Dalgairn ) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
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 | Glasgow | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
For Mr Macdoual
I impute it entirely to the Confinement & pain which
Mr Macdowal suffered from his leg that his constitution
has suffered & occasioned the disorder of his Stomach, the
giddiness & palpitation he has been liable to of late.
But as his leg now allows of some exercise, I hope
his Constitution may be strengthened & all his complaints
removed - For this purpose I advise the following ---
1. Continue the Asses milk a great part of the Summer
only once a day - best 2 or 3 hours before breakfast & take
from half a muchkin to a whole one as his stomach bear it
& sleep an hour or two after it; but if in this sleep he is
liable to sweat he must avoid this & by taking the milk
later not sleep at all after it.
2. At breakfast no Tea nor Coffee - but either Choco¬
late or Cocoa Tea or wequal parts of fresh Cows milk &
water Gruel well sweetened with Sugar -- With any of
those take only dry Toast - No butter nor Sweetmeats -
[Page 2]
3. At Dinner some plain ↑light↑ meal - avoiding fat meal
heavy sauces baked or fried meats. - Sparing of fish
particularly the heavier kinds such as herring or Salmon.
4. Never make a full meal of meat. but fill it up
with broth pudding or Vegetables
5. Ordinary drink plain or toast water - No
Malt liquor. - A very little Porter may be allowable
After dinner a glass of wine or two and no further &
if so any wine he Chooses.
6. At tea time he may take a dish of weak
Coffee or ↑weak↑ green Tea & always some bread along with
them - - but no Marmalade jelly or other such sweet. --
7. No Supper would be most proper; but if inclined
to them -- some thing very light abstaining entirely
from Animal food - Not even an Egg - but
if he be hungry at breakfast he may take a soft Egg.
If he take any thing at supper let it be some milk meal
8. The more fresh air & Exercise the better - a Single
horsechair the best - always avoiding cold & wet.
[Page 3]
9. He must still give much attention to his unfirm
leg - having ↑it↑ gently rubbed for a long time with flannel &
every night & morning - always to be kept warm. &
never let it hang down. & by very gentle means bring
it into use. -
10 Tho I think few medicines can be of use - he may try the
following
For Mr Macdowal.
Take five grains of Prepared Steel, seven grains of powdered Cinnamon and ten grains of White Sugar. Mix and let fourteen doses of a powder be made, for taking in an emergency. Label: Strengthening Powders One before dinner about an hour washing it down with a cupfull of the following Infusion.
Take half an ounce of powdered Peruvian bark and enough spring water to make a semiliquid mass. In a glass or marble mortar you will carefully grind it for half an hour, then pour gradually one pound of spring water. Put it in a flask and marinate for twelve hours. After that, add two ounces of tincture of Peruvian bark, and strain using the paper. Label: Strengthening infusion.
Edinburgh 9th May 1777
Diplomatic Text
For Mr Macdoual
I impute it entirely to the Confinement & pain wc
Mr Macdowal suffered from his leg that his constitution
has suffered & occasioned the disorder of his Stomach, the
giddiness & palpitation he has been liable to of late.
But as his leg now allows of some exercise, I hope
his Constitution may be strengthened & all his complaints
removed - For this purpose I advise the following ---
1. Continue the Asses milk a great part of the Summer
only once a day - best 2 or 3 hours before breakfast & take
from half a muchkin to a whole one as his stomach bear it
& sleep an hour or two after it; but if in this sleep he is
liable to sweat he must avoid this & by taking the milk
later not sleep at all after it.
2. At breakfast no Tea nor Coffee - but either Choco¬
late or Cocoa Tea or wequal parts of fresh Cows milk &
water Gruel well sweetened with Sugar -- With any of
those take only dry Toast - No butter nor Sweetmeats -
[Page 2]
3. At Dinner some plain ↑light↑ meal - avoiding fat meal
heavy sauces baked or fried meats. - Sparing of fish
particularly the heavier kinds such as herring or Salmon.
4. Never make a full meal of meat. but fill it up
with broth pudding or Vegetables
5. Ordinary drink plain or toast water - No
Malt liquor. - A very little Porter may be allowable
After dinner a glass of wine or two and no further &
if so any wine he Chooses.
6. At tea time he may take a dish of weak
Coffee or ↑weak↑ green Tea & always some bread along with
them - - but no Marmalade jelly or other such sweet. --
7. No Supper would be most proper; but if incl'd
to them -- some thing very light abstaining entirely
from Animal food - Not even an Egg - but
if he be hungry at breakfast he may take a soft Egg.
If he take any thing at supper let it be some milk meal
8. The more fresh air & Exercise the better - a Single
horsechair the best - always avoiding cold & wet.
[Page 3]
9. He must still give much attention to his unfirm
leg - having ↑it↑ gently rubbed for a long time with flannel &
every night & morning - always to be kept warm. &
never let it hang down. & by very gentle means bring
it into use. -
10 Tho I think few meds can be of use - he may try the
following
For Mr Macdowal.
℞ Lim. M. gr V. Cin. p.
gr vij S. A. dur. gr x.
ℳ. f. P. et f. h. m. dos. No XIV
S. Strengthening Powders One before dinner about an hour
washing it down with a cupfull of the following Infusion.
℞ P. C. P. ℥ss. Aq. font. q. s. ut f. Massa semiliquida
In mortario vitreo vel marmoreo terito diligenter per 1/2 horam
↑dimidiam↑ dein ↑paulatim↑ affunde Aq. font. ad ℔j Ripone in lagoena et macera
per horas XII dein adde Tinct. Cort. peruv. ℥ij et per Chartam
cola - S. Str. Infusion
Edinr 9th May 1777
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