The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:455] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: [ADDRESSEE UNKNOWN] / Regarding: Mr Bob Campbell (Robert) (Patient) / November? 1771? / (Outgoing)
Reply 'For Mr Bob Campbell', giving advice on avoiding scurvy during a sea voyage.
- 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 | 455 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/3/38 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | November? 1771? |
| 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 'For Mr Bob Campbell', giving advice on avoiding scurvy during a sea voyage. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:161] |
Case of Mr Bob Campbell who seeks advice on managing his health on a long sea voyage. |
1 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:1132] | Patient | Mr Bob Campbell (Robert) |
| [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 |
| Mentioned / Other | East Indies | certain | ||||
| Mentioned / Other | London | London and South-East | England | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
For Mr Bob Campbell.
In going upon a long voyage the ailment chiefly to be guar
ded against is Scurvy. This is always produced by the use of
Salted meat especially such as has been ill cured or long kept.
It is probable that Mr Campbell will not even in a pretty long
Voyage be confined entirely to Salt provisions and therefore he may
at times take part of them very safely. But if the voyage proves
long and the live Stock happens to be consumed he may then be
forced upon the ships provisions and be liable to Scurvy unless
he either can confine himself to those ship provisions which
do not give Scurvy such as Stockfish 1 , bread, and pudding, or has
taken care to provide himself with a Supply. This may be
any kind of grain but what is most easily carried and goes farthest
is Rice which will also be most easily procured in the East Indies
for the voyage home. Of this therefore let him lay in a
small barrel or two to be reserved till he comes to be much on
Salt provisions. To make this the more agreable and to answer
the same purpose of obviating the Scurvy let him lay in in
as large a stock of good raisins as he can find room for.
If he can follow my exambple he may frequently make a meal
of bread soaked in water till it is a little softened and thin
eaten with Oil Vinegar and Sugar or if Oil is scarce or not
good the bread may be taken with Vinegar and Sugar alone.
Sugar is one of the best preservatives against the Scurvy
& Mr Campbell
should lay in as large a provision of it as he can and when ever he is
upon salt provisions to take the Sugar freely with every kind of meat
or drink he can take it with. Wine is another preservative & therefore
if he is allowed to lay in Sea Store 2 , it should be especially of Wine
& if he can keep it to himself it may be of great service to him in
times of Scurvy but it should be reserved for that time & taken
[Page 2]
moderately. When he is obliged to take punch he should if possible
be provided with Sowring. The Spirits he lays in should if possible be
made into Shrub or if as usual he must lay in his Spirits in the Downs 3
let him take what Lemons he can. The best manner of managing
them is to lay them in as green as possible & to keep them in a
barrel of oatmeal. A moderate quantity will answer for the Scurvy
for they should not be used while there is beer & fresh provisions
aboard as is commonly the case for the first part of the voyage -
Lemon juice is hardly ever well preserved, but it may be by
the help of a little boiling and an addition of Strong Spirits.
I am told that Orange juice keeps much better and is to be had
ready prepared at London. These are the directions I can give
for meat & drink, but advise him to keep them to himself, and
to smuggle what relates to them for his Ship mates may have
a bad opinion of a young man who takes precautions against
dangers which they despise. I have only to add that people
about Ships who work the hardest are the last to take the
Scurvy. It is good for him therefore in every Shape to be an
alert & active Sailor –––––
Notes:
1: A 'name for cod and other gadoid fish cured by splitting open and drying hard in the air without salt (OED).
2: This presumably means his own private store of provisions, as distinct from the ship's general stores.
3: Area of the sea within Goodwin Sands off the east coast of Kent, a traditional place where ships might wait in relative shelter to take on stores and passengers before setting out on long-distance journeys.
Diplomatic Text
For Mr Bob Campbell.
In going upon a long voyage the ailment chiefly to be guar
ded against is Scurvy. This is always produced by the use of
Salted meat especially such as has been ill cured or long kept.
It is probable that Mr Campbell will not even in a pretty long
Voyage be confined entirely to Salt provisions and therefore he may
at times take part of them very safely. But if the voyage proves
long and the live Stock happens to be consumed he may then be
forced upon the ships provisions and be liable to Scurvy unless
he either can confine himself to those ship provisions which
do not give Scurvy such as Stockfish 1 , bread, and pudding, or has
taken care to provide himself with a Supply. This may be
any kind of grain but what is most easily carried and goes farthest
is Rice which will also be most easily procured in the East Indies
for the voyage home. Of this therefore let him lay in a
small barrel or two to be reserved till he comes to be much on
Salt provisions. To make this the more agreable and to answer
the same purpose of obviating the Scurvy let him lay in in
as large a stock of good raisins as he can find room for.
If he can follow my exambple he may frequently make a meal
of bread soaked in water till it is a little softened and thin
eaten with Oil Vinegar and Sugar or if Oil is scarce or not
good the bread may be taken with Vinegar and Sugar alone.
Sugar is one of the best preservatives against the Scurvy
& Mr Campbell
should lay in as large a provision of it as he can and when ever he is
upon salt provisions to take the Sugar freely with every kind of meat
or drink he can take it with. Wine is another preservative & therefore
if he is allowed to lay in Sea Store 2 , it should be especially of Wine
& if he can keep it to himself it may be of great service to him in
times of Scurvy but it should be reserved for that time & taken
[Page 2]
moderately. When he is obliged to take punch he should if possible
be provided with Sowring. The Spirits he lays in should if possible be
made into Shrub or if as usual he must lay in his Spirits in the Downs 3
let him take what Lemons he can. The best manner of managing
them is to lay them in as green as possible & to keep them in a
barrel of oatmeal. A moderate quantity will answer for ye Scurvy
for they should not be used while there is beer & fresh provisions
aboard as is commonly the case for the first part of the voyage -
Lemon juice is hardly ever well preserved, but it may be by
the help of a little boiling and an addition of Strong Spirits.
I am told that Orange juice keeps much better and is to be had
ready prepared at London. These are the directions I can give
for meat & drink, but advise him to keep them to himself, and
to smuggle what relates to them for his Ship mates may have
a bad opinion of a young man who takes precautions against
dangers which they despise. I have only to add that people
about Ships who work the hardest are the last to take the
Scurvy. It is good for him therefore in every Shape to be an
alert & active Sailor –––––
Notes:
1: A 'name for cod and other gadoid fish cured by splitting open and drying hard in the air without salt (OED).
2: This presumably means his own private store of provisions, as distinct from the ship's general stores.
3: Area of the sea within Goodwin Sands off the east coast of Kent, a traditional place where ships might wait in relative shelter to take on stores and passengers before setting out on long-distance journeys.
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