The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:4321] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Mr H? Patch / Regarding: Mrs (Patient) / 29 September 1778 / (Outgoing)
Reply 'To [H?] Patch Q a Lady'. Case described as "unfavorable", but Cullen suggests trying Cicuta.
- 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 | 4321 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/11/59 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 29 September 1778 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Scribal copy ( includes Casebook Entry) |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply 'To [H?] Patch Q a Lady'. Case described as "unfavorable", but Cullen suggests trying Cicuta. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1046] |
Case of 'A Lady' with an abdominal, possibly uterine cancer for which Cullen advises giving Circuta (Hemlock) as a desperate measure. |
2 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:2442] | Addressee | Mr H? Patch |
| [PERS ID:2444] | Patient | Mrs |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:2442] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Mr H? Patch |
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 | Exeter | South-West | England | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
To {illeg} Patch Query a Lady
The case appears to me most unfavorable & I doubt
much if I can be of any use to the lady. But as no case
is to be deserted I shall say what I can.
The Cicuta appears one of the most promising remedies
& I have found it successful in a parallel case: but much
depends upon the medicine being good which it often is
not. If the Extract you employed occasioned any gid¬
diness, tremor or other such symptoms it was a sufficient
mark of its goodness but it it never produced any such
effects. I should consider it as good for nothing and the
dose you now are at ʒjſs a day makes me suspect that
at least your Extract is not very powerful. I have
always found the powder of the dried leaves made acco¬
rding to Pharmacopia Edinburgh 1 a more certain medicine than the Extract.
If the Extract never produced sensible effects I would
advise it to be laid aside & the powder if you can pro¬
cure it as dried in the spring season to be employed in its
place giving it at first in a small dose & increasing it by
degrees but not very slowly. If the Extract produced sensible
effects & after long use has been of no service to the di¬
sease you may conclude that the Cicuta is not a remedy
adapted to it. In such cases I never found Mercury tho
frequently tried, of any service. I never tried the Belladonna
in such a case but in other cancerous cases I have found it
remarkably useful; & I see no objection to trying it with
your Patient. You may begin with an infusion of the
dried leaves & giving in the morning before breakfast the
infusion of half a grain for a dose. According to the effects
of this which are usually more or less of a giddiness and con¬
fusion of head you will next day continue or increase
the dose till it shall have some sensible effects. After
[Page 2]
some time if the effects are moderate you may give a dose at night
as well as in the morning & you must continue the use of its for
some weeks before you despair of its effects. In the mean time
I think the use the Tinct. Thebaica absolutely necessary &
increased to any quantity the pains may seem to require. I
have seen good effects from the Opium largely employed in
such cases.
Notes:
1: See Pharmacopoeia Collegii Regii Medicorum Edinburgensis (Edinburgh: 1774), p. 46.
Diplomatic Text
To {illeg} Patch Q a Lady
The case appears to me most unfavorable & I doubt
much if I can be of any use to the lady. But as no case
is to be deserted I shall say what I can.
The Cicuta appears one of the most promising remedies
& I have found it successful in a parallel case: but mc
depends upon the medicine being good which it often is
not. If the Extract you employed occasioned any gid¬
diness, tremor or other such symptoms it was a sufficient
mark of its goodness but it it never produced any such
effects. I should consider it as good for nothing and the
dose you now are at ʒjſs a day makes me suspect that
at least your Extract is not very powerful. I have
always found the powder of the dried leaves made acco¬
rding to Ph. Ed. 1 a more certain medicine than the Extract.
If the Extract never produced sensible effects I would
advise it to be laid aside & the powder if you can pro¬
cure it as dried in the spring season to be employed in its
place giving it at first in a small dose & increasing it by
degrees but not very slowly. If the Extract produced sensible
effects & after long use has been of no service to the di¬
sease you may conclude that the Cicuta is not a remedy
adapted to it. In such cases I never found Mercury tho
frequently tried, of any service. I never tried the Belladonna
in such a case but in other cancerous cases I have found it
remarkably useful; & I see no objection to trying it with
your Patient. You may begin with an infusion of the
dried leaves & giving in the morning before breakfast the
infusion of half a grain for a dose. According to the effects
of this which are usually more or less of a giddiness and con¬
fusion of head you will next day continue or increase
the dose till it shall have some sensible effects. After
[Page 2]
some time if the effects are moderate you may give a dose at night
as well as in the morning & you must continue the use of its for
some weeks before you despair of its effects. In the mean time
I think the use the Tinct. Thebaica absolutely necessary &
increased to any quantity the pains may seem to require. I
have seen good effects from the Opium largely employed in
such cases.
Notes:
1: See Pharmacopoeia Collegii Regii Medicorum Edinburgensis (Edinburgh: 1774), p. 46.
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