The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:4423] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: [ADDRESSEE UNKNOWN] / Regarding: Miss Russell (Y. Z.) (Patient) / 5 May 1779 / (Outgoing)
Reply headed 'For Miss Y. Z.', identified from related letters as a Miss Russell . Cullen suggests her case is ‘hysterical not maniacal’ and gives advice on diet and exercise. He also recommends cold bathing and that the patient’s hair be 'cut close or even shaven’ as part of this treatment. Cullen suggests a ‘strait waistcoat’ if the patient is particularly unmanageable.
- 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 | 4423 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/11/161 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 5 May 1779 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Scribal copy ( includes Casebook Entry) |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | Yes |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply headed 'For Miss Y. Z.', identified from related letters as a Miss Russell . Cullen suggests her case is ‘hysterical not maniacal’ and gives advice on diet and exercise. He also recommends cold bathing and that the patient’s hair be 'cut close or even shaven’ as part of this treatment. Cullen suggests a ‘strait waistcoat’ if the patient is particularly unmanageable. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1147] |
Case of 'Miss Y. Z.' (an anonymisation of Miss Russel), a young woman who has had another episode of a previous mental disorder; Cullen considers the case treatable hysteria rather than incurable mania. |
5 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:183] | Patient | Miss Russell (Y. Z.) |
| [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 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
For Miss Y. Z.
I think the case hysteric not maniacal. It is therefore a
temporary affection only & may be soon cured.
1. If she is of a full habit of body & florid complexion & if it
be observed that her ailments are worse towards the end of her
month I think about 8 or 10 days before that, she should be bled
at the arm, once or twice according to the effect of former bleeding
[Page 2]
2. About the same time she should be purged twice or thrice
with cr. of tartar or Glaubers salt; and at all times cos¬
tiveness should not be allowed above a day or two.
Whether she be regular monthly or not, if her habit
if tolerably full these evacuations will be proper, and a
foundation for farther attempts.
3. As her appetite is rather voracious her diet must
be as low as possible, of milk ↑grain↑ & vegetable only. Her
drink should be water, whey, or small beer but nothing
stronger.
4. Much fresh air will be proper but her exercise must
be gentle & never to heat or fatigue. Riding is the best
she should never ramble at her own fancy.
5. After her fullness is thus taken down cold ba¬
thing will be of service. She need not go to the sea
which is inconvenient, and she may bathe at home.
[{illeg}?] (↑The↑) hair ↑of her head↑ must be cut close or even shaven, & she should
be set down naked on a stool in a pretty wide washing
tub & pour several basonfuls of cold water upon
her head, neck & shoulders; taking her immediately
out of the tub, drying her well with coarse towels &
putting on her ordinary cloaths. This should be done
in the morning upon coming out of bed & always be¬
fore breakfast. The water should be from a Spring
or deep well whose temperature is nearly the same at
all times & should be taken from the well just be¬
fore it is to be used. This bathing may be at first
every second or third day but [more?] frequently after,
& generally every morning except for a few days about
[Page 3]
the end of her month. I suppose her regular monthly but tho
she should be obstructed while her body appears tolerably full
I think the bathing may be sufficiently safe.
In this case the management of her mind requires
much discretion. I would avoid a (↑have↑) have everything
avoided that can disturb her and if she like it give
her some amusement. But when her mind is much
disordered & she becomes wilful, refractory or impetuous
I would have her checked and if possible by the [same?]
[&?] authority of a friend; but if not by force for all
indulgence of fits does much harm. The most easy
restraint is a strait waistcoat.
7. Few medicines can be of much service, but I have
ordered one which may I hope be of some use. I beg
to be informed if her sleeping be bad, for I suppose it
to be good. I delay advising opiates till I know
Take one drachm of Camphor, half an ounce white sugar adding some drops of rectified spirit of wine, rub into powder then add one and a half drachms of best asafoetida and a sufficient quantity of gum Arabic Mucilago so as to make a mass to be divided into single pills of four grains each. Label: Cephalic Pills three for a dose every night at bed time.
Diplomatic Text
For Miss Y. Z.
I think the case hysteric not maniacal. It is therefore a
temporary affection only & may be soon cured.
1. If she is of a full habit of body & florid complexion & if it
be observed that her ailments are worse towards the end of her
month I think about 8 or 10 days before that, she should be bled
at the arm, once or twice according to the effect of former bleeding
[Page 2]
2. About the same time she should be purged twice or thrice
with cr. of tartar or Glaubers salt; and at all times cos¬
tiveness should not be allowed above a day or two.
Whether she be regular monthly or not, if her habit
if tolerably full these evacuations will be proper, and a
foundation for farther attempts.
3. As her appetite is rather voracious her diet must
be as low as possible, of milk ↑grain↑ & vegetable only. Her
drink should be water, whey, or small beer but nothing
stronger.
4. Much fresh air will be proper but her exercise must
be gentle & never to heat or fatigue. Riding is the best
she should never ramble at her own fancy.
5. After her fullness is thus taken down cold ba¬
thing will be of service. She need not go to the sea
which is inconvenient, and she may bathe at home.
[{illeg}?] (↑The↑) hair ↑of her head↑ must be cut close or even shaven, & she should
be set down naked on a stool in a pretty wide washing
tub & pour several basonfuls of cold water upon
her head, neck & shoulders; taking her immediately
out of the tub, drying her well with coarse towels &
putting on her ordinary cloaths. This should be done
in the morning upon coming out of bed & always be¬
fore breakfast. The water should be from a Spring
or deep well whose temperature is nearly the same at
all times & should be taken from the well just be¬
fore it is to be used. This bathing may be at first
every second or third day but [more?] frequently after,
& generally every morning except for a few days about
[Page 3]
the end of her month. I suppose her regular monthly but tho
she should be obstructed while her body appears tolerably full
I think the bathing may be sufficiently safe.
In this case the management of her mind requires
much discretion. I would avoid a (↑have↑) have everything
avoided that can disturb her and if she like it give
her some amusement. But when her mind is much
disordered & she becomes wilful, refractory or impetuous
I would have her checked and if possible by the [same?]
[&?] authority of a friend; but if not by force for all
indulgence of fits does much harm. The most easy
restraint is a strait waistcoat.
7. Few medicines can be of much service, but I have
ordered one which may I hope be of some use. I beg
to be informed if her sleeping be bad, for I suppose it
to be good. I delay advising opiates till I know
℞ Camphor ʒj Sacch. alb. duriss ℥ſs
adjectis Spt. vin. rectt. guttulis aliquot terito in pulv.
dein adde as. foetid. opt ʒiſs Muc. g. Arab. q. s. ut f massa
divid in pil sing. gr. jv.
S. Cephalic Pills three for a dose every night at bed time.
XML
XML file not yet available.
Feedback
Send us specfic feeback about this document [DOC ID:4423]
Please note that the Cullen Project team have now disbanded but your comments will be logged in our system and we will look at them one day...
