Cullen

The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh

 

[ID:4572] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Mr Richard Lambert / Regarding: Miss Mary Peareth (Pearith, Peariths) (Patient), Miss Barbara Peareth (Pearith) (Patient), Miss Henrietta Peareth (Patient) / February? 1780? / (Outgoing)

Reply, 'To Mr Lambert C. the Miss Peareths'.

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Metadata

FieldData
DOC ID 4572
RCPE Catalogue Number CUL/1/1/12/139
Main Language English
Document Direction Outgoing
DateFebruary? 1780?
Annotation None
TypeAuthorial original
Enclosure(s) No enclosure(s)
Autopsy No
Recipe Yes
Regimen No
Letter of Introduction No
Case Note No
Summary Reply, 'To Mr Lambert C. the Miss Peareths'.
Manuscript Incomplete? No
Evidence of Commercial Posting No

Case

Cases that this document belongs to:

Case ID Description Num Docs
[Case ID:52]
Case of Miss Mary Peareth who has a painful bladder condition.
25
[Case ID:53]
Case of Miss Barbara Peareth who is thought to have an internal abdominal tumour.
13
[Case ID:54]
Case of Miss H. Peareth whose bowel disorder proves to be worms.
5


People linked to this document

Person IDRole in documentPerson
[PERS ID:1]AuthorDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:81]AddresseeMr Richard Lambert
[PERS ID:662]PatientMiss Barbara Peareth (Pearith)
[PERS ID:1412]PatientMiss Henrietta Peareth
[PERS ID:80]PatientMiss Mary Peareth (Pearith, Peariths)
[PERS ID:1]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:81]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryMr Richard Lambert

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 Newcastle upon Tyne North-East England Europe inferred

Normalized Text

[Page 1]

To Mr Lambert Concerning the Miss Peareths.


Miss Marys ailment of a singular kind & I have no doubt that
there has been a purulent discharge from the neck of the bladder &
I think your remedies were well adopted to that supposition, nay
I am persuaded they have been of Service, for by her account of her
Symptoms &. general health for sometime past she is certainly
much relieved --- Since her coming here, her Symptoms have been
very moderate & as to her Urine, -!- from frequent inspection
I have not discovered any thing like Pus, but once, or twice, &
generally there is only a small portion of ash coloured Mucus
So if there is any ulceration it must be very inconsiderable
& such as I hope may heal up very soon, but as she has had
intervals of relief & returns of her ailment I cannot be
certain of what is to happen --- I have made trial only of
The Balsam Capivi which she has now taken to 40 drops in the
Evening -- I dont know it has done good, but it has
given no irritation to the part. I was led to the trial of this
remedy by her complaints being originally Hemorrhoidal.
& in such Cases I have found it of Service -- She is to lay
it aside during her journey, but when she has been at home
for a day or two, I would have you try it again to the quantity of 50
Drops for a Dose for seven or eight days, & if it does not seem
to give any irritation to the neck of the bladder, it may be
continued a little longer, but it cannot be long insisted upon
at one time -- If her complaints should grow worse & show



[Page 2]

show a more considerable purulent discharge I think
you should return to your former Medicines


I would not carry the Mercurial Course for unless it shows
very good effects. & I would lay it aside & trust to a Diet
of Milk & farinacea persisted in for two or three months
At all times she must avoid Cold & any but the most
gentle bodily Exercise ---


I am persuaded the Tumor on Miss Barbara's Stomach
in stpite of some change of situation, is in the small lobe
of the liver
not in the Stomach. I know of no remedies
for it, but to prevent her thinking her Case desperate or
that we are neglectfull of it, there are other ailments
in her Constitution which require much attention


Her Stomach is weak & She is liable to indigestion & an
irregular belly -- For these, I would advise the absorbent
Powder
& Rhubarb as below -- When her belly is open
the Absorbent Powder may be one of the Testacea
but when costive it may be Magnesia & in a somewhat
larger Dose --- I dont advise Bark Steel &c. as I think
her constitution would not bear Tonics -- as I am inclined to
suspect something Phthisical about her breast and
fear she may be attacked with Phthisis &c.


With a view to this I have prescribed a Pectoral Pill &
which will not hurt the Stomach --Myrrh has been



[Page 3]

much recommended for complaints of the breast, but I have
not seen much of its salutary effects & if it needs to be used
with Caution, but in small quantities I have found it suffici¬
ently safe, & it may be tried till more favourable weather allows
of fresh air & frequent exercise on horseback ---


Miss Peareth, has also some Complaints, seemingly a Spas¬
modic affection
of the Intestines. with an irregular Belly -- I
have given a ℞ below for these Complaints -- She seems also to have some
affection of the Urinary passages - It is singular that all the three
should have an affection in these parts ---


For Miss Barbara Peareth

Take ten grains of prepared crab's Eyes, five grains of Cinnamon powder and from three to five grains of electuary of rhubarb powder. Mix and let there be made a Pill. Label it as Stomachic Powders. One to be taken morning and evening for one week.

Take thee drachms of Liquorice Extract and one drachm of Myrrh. Pour over the extract concentrated in a small mass a sufficient quantity of hot water in order to let it soften and crushed into a pulp, to which you need to add the Myrrh crushed in fine powder, and crush it in order to let it be well blended. Let there in this way be made a mass to be divided in pills of four grains each. Label as Pectoral Pills. Three every night at bedtime.


For Miss Peareth

Take one drachm Gum guaiaicum and two drachms of the purest white Sugar. Crushed together very well and add half an ounce of Mucilage of gum raw Arabic. Crush again and little by little pour three ounces of simple cinnamon Water, three ounces of peppermint and one ounce of Peruvian Bark Tincture. Label as Stomachic Mixture, a spoonful every night at bedtime.

Diplomatic Text

[Page 1]

To Mr Lambert C. the Miss Peareths.


Miss Marys ailment of a singular kind & I have no doubt that
there has been a purulent discharge from the neck of the bladder &
I think your remedies were well adopted to that supposition, nay
I am persuaded they have been of Service, for by her account of her
Symptoms &. general health for sometime past she is certainly
much relieved --- Since her coming here, her Symptoms have been
very moderate & as to her Urine, -!- from frequent inspection
I have not discovered any thing like Pus, but once, or twice, &
generally there is only a small portion of ash coloured Mucus
So if there is any ulceration it must be very inconsiderable
& such as I hope may heal up very soon, but as she has had
intervals of relief & returns of her ailment I cannot be
certain of what is to happen --- I have made trial only of
The Balsam Capivi wc she has now taken to 40 drops in the
Evening -- I dont know it has done good, but it has
given no irritation to the part. I was led to the trial of this
remedy by her complaints being originally Hemorrhoidal.
& in such Cases I have found it of Service -- She is to lay
it aside during her journey, but when she has been at home
for a day or two, I would have you try it again to the qty of 50
Drops for a Dose for seven or eight days, & if it does not seem
to give any irritation to the neck of the bladder, it may be
continued a little longer, but it cannot be long insisted upon
at one time -- If her complaints should grow worse & show



[Page 2]

show a more considerable purulent discharge I think
you should return to your former Medicines


I would not carry the Mercurial Course for unless it shows
very good effects. & I would lay it aside & trust to a Diet
of Milk & farinacea persisted in for two or three months
At all times she must avoid Cold & any but the most
gentle bodily Exercise ---


I am persuaded the Tumor on Miss Barbara's Stomach
in stpite of some change of situation, is in the small lobe
of the liver
not in the Stomach. I know of no remedies
for it, but to prevent her thinking her Case desperate or
that we are neglectfull of it, there are other ailments
in her Constitution wc require much attention


Her Stomach is weak & She is liable to indigestion & an
irregular belly -- For these, I would advise the absorbent
Powder
& Rhubarb as below -- When her belly is open
the Absorbent Powder may be one of the Testacea
but when costive it may be Magnesia & in a somewhat
larger Dose --- I dont advise Bark Steel &c. as I think
her constitution would not bear Tonics -- as I am inclined to
suspect something Phthisical about her breast and
fear she may be attacked with Phthisis &c.


With a view to this I have prescribed a Pectoral Pill &
which will not hurt the Stomach --Myrrh has been



[Page 3]

much recommended for complaints of the breast, but I have
not seen much of its salutary effects & if it needs to be used
with Caution, but in small quantities I have found it suffici¬
ently safe, & it may be tried till more favourable weather allows
of fresh air & frequent exercise on horseback ---


Miss Peareth, has also some Complaints, seemingly a Spas¬
modic affection
of the Intestines. with an irregular Belly -- I
have given a ℞ below for these Compts. -- She seems also to have some
affection of the Urinary passages - It is singular that all the three
should have an affection in these parts ---


For Miss Barbara Peareth


Ocul. cancr. pptt. gr x
Cinn. pulv. gr v
Pulv rhei elect. gr iij ad v.
ℳ. f. P. et f. h. m.
Sig. Stomachic Powders. Cap. 1. m. & v. pro Septimana


Extr. Glycyrrhiz. ʒiij
Myrr. ʒj
Extracto ↑in↑ frustula minuta concisa affunde Aq. bull. ferv.
q.s. ut mollescat Extr. et conte in pulpam cui adde Myrrham
ut pulverem ten. tritam et terito probe ut bene misceantur
et f. m Massa div. in pil. sing gr iv
Sig. Pectoral Pills three every night at bedtime


For Miss Peareth


Gum. guaiac. ʒj Sacch. alb. puriss. ʒij Terito simul
diligenter et adde Muc. g. Arab. crass. ℥fs, terito iterum et paulatim
affunde Aq. cinn. simpl. --- menth. piper @ ℥iij Tinct. C. Per. ℥j
Sig. Stom. Mixture a table Spoonfull om. nocte. h. s.

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