The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:4604] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Mrs Lucy Maxwell (Gage) (of Munchies, Munches) / Regarding: Mrs Lucy Maxwell (Gage) (of Munchies, Munches) (Patient) / 2 April 1783 / (Outgoing)
Reply, headed 'Mrs Maxwell of Munches'.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 4 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
[Page 3]
[Page 4]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 4604 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/16/9 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 2 April 1783 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Machine scribal copy |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | Yes |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply, headed 'Mrs Maxwell of Munches'. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:780] |
Case of Mrs Maxwell of Munches [Munchies] whose symptoms are attributed to 'a weakness of the womb'; she is later considered a 'nervous' case. Cullen's replies refer to a number of incoming letters which are untraced. |
9 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:2415] | Addressee | Mrs Lucy Maxwell (of Munchies, Munches) |
| [PERS ID:2415] | Patient | Mrs Lucy Maxwell (of Munchies, Munches) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:3082] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Mr George Maxwell (of Munchies, Munches) |
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 |
Normalized Text
Mrs Maxwell of Munches
I had the honour of Yours of the 23d. past
but the subject requiring some study and delibe¬
ration some particular accidents have prevented
my Answering you so soon as I wished.
I am still of the same opinion as before that
your Ailment consists very much in a weakness
of the Womb which gives some irregularities in its
functions and gives various unmeaning feelings
both there and in the neighbouring Parts. I am
however very certain there is neither inflammation
nor Ulceration concerning the matter and if we
can mend the weakness of your nerves in general
and more particularly strengthen the womb you
will have much fewer complaints than hitherto.
It is upon this Plan that I advised Cold bathing
[Page 2]
in the manner that I thought you could bear.
I am glad to find that I have succeeded in this
that you have been the better for it and I know
of no considerations that can now give hesita¬
tion about the continuance of its use. I must there¬
fore earnestly advise you to use it almost every
day till within one or two of your term. I am glad
too that I have also found for you a proper laxative
and which I think you should continue to use
as often as any degree of Costiveness occurrs. I
have now only to offer to you a new medicine which
I have found very useful in strengthening the
Womb and other parts which in your case are
particularly affected with weakness. I have pre¬
scribed it on a separate Paper that my be sent
to your Apothecary and upon that Paper too are
the directions for its use. I must here repeat
[Page 3]
my former advice that you should be frequently
in the open air. I hope the Season will now allow
of it and I hope the use of the strengthening Electuary
will enable you to bear it better than before and
I must add that airings about your own home are
much better than remaining within Doors and
will certainly do you service yet they will not do
near to much as a Journey steadily pursued
for some time and therefore to some length
and against the next month or soon after I
would have you seriously think of Putting
it in execution. I have no doubt that it may be mana¬
ged so as to be suited to your strength and certainly
may be rendered agreeable and good for your spirits
With respectful Compliments to Mr. Maxwell I
am with great respect
Madam
Your most Obedient humble Servant
2d. April
1783
[Page 4]
✍ For Mrs Maxwell of Munches
Take one ounce of powdered bear berry leaves, one drachm each of powdered cinnamon and Iron Filings, and a sufficient quantity of Simple Syrup to make an Electuary. Label: Strengthening Electuary. The bigness of a filbert to be swallowed in a wafer twice a day about an hour before dinner and supper, washing down each with dose with a glass of Hartfell Spa water.
2d April
1783.
Diplomatic Text
Mrs Maxwell of Munches
I had the honour of Yours of the 23d. past
but the subject requiring some study and delibe¬
ration some particular accidents have prevented
my Answering you so soon as I wished.
I am still of the same opinion as before that
your Ailment consists very much in a weakness
of the Womb which gives some irregularities in its
functions and gives various unmeaning feelings
both there and in the neighbouring Parts. I am
however very certain there is neither inflammation
nor Ulceration concerning the matter and if we
can mend the weakness of your nerves in general
and more particularly strengthen the womb you
will have much fewer complaints than hitherto.
It is upon this Plan that I advised Cold bathing
[Page 2]
in the manner that I thought you could bear.
I am glad to find that I have succeeded in this
that you have been the better for it and I know
of no considerations that can now give hesita¬
tion about the continuance of its use. I must there¬
fore earnestly advise you to use it almost every
day till within one or two of your term. I am glad
too that I have also found for you a proper laxative
and which I think you should continue to use
as often as any degree of Costiveness occurrs. I
have now only to offer to you a new medicine which
I have found very useful in strengthening the
Womb and other parts which in your case are
particularly affected with weakness. I have pre¬
scribed it on a separate Paper that my be sent
to your Apothecary and upon that Paper too are
the directions for its use. I must here repeat
[Page 3]
my former advice that you should be frequently
in the open air. I hope the Season will now allow
of it and I hope the use of the strengthening Electuary
will enable you to bear it better than before and
I must add that airings about your own home are
much better than remaining within Doors and
will certainly do you service yet they will not do
near to much as a Journey steadily pursued
for some time and therefore to some length
and against the next month or soon after I
would have you seriously think of Putting
it in execution. I have no doubt that it may be mana¬
ged so as to be suited to your strength and certainly
may be rendered agreeable and good for your spirits
With respectful Compliments to Mr. Maxwell I
am with great respect
Madam
Your most Obedient humble Servant
Edinr.
1783
[Page 4]
✍ For Mrs Maxwell of Munches
℞ pulv. folior. uva ursi.
-- cinnamom.
Limatur. Mart. @
Syr. Simpl. q. s. ut. f. Electuarium
Signa Strengthening Electuary the bigness of
a filbert to be swallowed in a wafer twice a
day about an hour before dinner and supper
washing down each dose with a glass of
Hartfell Spa water
2d April
1783.
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