The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:4607] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: [ADDRESSEE UNKNOWN] / Regarding: Miss Amelia Clephane (Clephan) (Patient) / 6 April 1783 / (Outgoing)
Reply headed 'For Miss [Amelia] Clephan'. Cullen, writing to oblige the patient's mother, does not think that there is anything the matter with Miss Clephan, apart from a predisposition to weak nerves for which she should keep to the regimen he outlines, which includes reading 'True History' rather than 'novels or sermons'. Listed as a 'regimen' because, although not an enumerated site of directives, the advice is termed 'a regimen\ in the body of the letter.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 5 images for this document.
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Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 4607 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/16/12 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 6 April 1783 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Machine scribal copy |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | Yes |
| Regimen | Yes |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply headed 'For Miss [Amelia] Clephan'. Cullen, writing to oblige the patient's mother, does not think that there is anything the matter with Miss Clephan, apart from a predisposition to weak nerves for which she should keep to the regimen he outlines, which includes reading 'True History' rather than 'novels or sermons'. Listed as a 'regimen' because, although not an enumerated site of directives, the advice is termed 'a regimen\ in the body of the letter. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1222] |
Case of Miss Amelia Clephane who in late-1779 is thought to have a temporary 'affection of the stomach and nerves'; in 1783 Cullen detects no particular disorder, but provides a regimen to manage her 'weak nerves'. |
4 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:2859] | Patient | Miss Amelia Clephane (Clephan) |
| [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 |
Normalized Text
For Miss Clephan
We have enquired into every circumstance of this
young Ladys constitution and are happy to find her health
in almost every respect at Present very good nor do
we find her threatened with any ailment that deserves
notice so that were it not to satisfy her Mother
by giving this opinion under our hands we should not
have thought it necessary to say any thing in writing
upon this occasion.
By examining [as well?] as we can her present state
and enquiring into the History of her compliants for some
time past we can discover no sort of Ailment in her
breast nor do we perceive any threatnings of such in
her constitution and we are of opinion that she is now
much more secure against such ailments than we could
judge her to be some years ago.
The only frailty that we can suspect to be in
Miss Clephans constitution at present is some weakness
[Page 2]
of Nerves which sometimes appears in her stomach and
like all other such affections of the stomach may give some
inequality of spirits. We hope such these Ailments are
seldom severe and we are very certain they are never dan¬
gerous.
As we suppose these Ailments to depend in some
measure upon a natural constitution so we so not think
this can be cured by medicines and therefore we would not
advise the constant use of any but we are clear that Miss
Clephans health will be better or worse according to her
manner of living or as we call it Regimen.
We think she will be better in the Country than
in the Town. In the Country she should be as much in
the open Air as the state of the weather will allow and
by this she will be more secure against the effects of
cold than if she was to stay much within doors. But
at the same time she should guard against cold by wearing
a flannel Skirt and being otherwise warmly cloathed.
And particularly guard against being much wetted
[Page 3]
especially in her feet and legs. When she is abroad she should
be always in some exercise and she may choose the manner
she likes best. She may go in a Carriage or she may ride on
horseback or she may walk on foot. We are happy to observe
that walking which we would not have approved of some
years ago now seems to agree with her very well and we
think she may be indulged in it providing always it is
not carried so far as to heat or fatigue her.
In Diet we see little occasion for much nicity in the
choice of it. She may take the most part of ordinary fair
with this general rule that on one hand she avoid any
thing that may be heavy on her stomach and on the other
hand any thing that may be cold or windy on it. If She
digests milk easily she may take it very often and we
think meat Suppers are very improper. At Breakfast
or in the Afternoons we judge Strong Green Tea or strong
Coffee very improper for her but weak Bohea tea not
taken too largely may be generally safe.
Moderate and gentle (↑cheerful↑) Amusements may be very
[Page 4]
useful but all hurry of her spirits should be avoided and
the late hours of fashionable diversions and gay Company
will be very hazardous.
Some reading may be allowed but not much and for
time within doors some work is safer than reading and
in this True History is much safer than Novels or Sermons
These are the particulars of Regimen that have
occurred to be mentioned and we have already said that
we would wish to avoid medicines but still we have ordered
one which upon occasion may be employed to remove the
Pains of her stomach when these are in any great
degree troublesome for slight and transient Pains are
not enough to lead any Person into the habit of a medicine.
Edinburgh 6th April
1783
[Page 5]
For Miss Clephan
Take two ounces of Tincture of Amarum and Peruvian bark and an ounce and a half of aromatics. Mix. Stomachic Tincture, a tablespoonful mixed with two tablespoonfuls of water to be taken when the pains of the Stomach are troublesome
6th April
1783.
Diplomatic Text
For Miss Clephan
We have enquired into every circumstance of this
young Ladys constitution and are happy to find her health
in almost every respect at Present very good nor do
we find her threatened with any ailment that deserves
notice so that were it not to satisfy her Mother
by giving this opinion under our hands we should not
have thought it necessary to say any thing in writing
upon this occasion.
By examining [as well?] as we can her present state
and enquiring into the History of her compliants for some
time past we can discover no sort of Ailment in her
breast nor do we perceive any threatnings of such in
her constitution and we are of opinion that she is now
much more secure against such ailments than we could
judge her to be some years ago.
The only frailty that we can suspect to be in
Miss Clephans constitution at present is some weakness
[Page 2]
of Nerves which sometimes appears in her stomach and
like all other such affections of the stomach may give some
inequality of spirits. We hope such these Ailments are
seldom severe and we are very certain they are never dan¬
gerous.
As we suppose these Ailments to depend in some
measure upon a natural constitution so we so not think
this can be cured by medicines and therefore we would not
advise the constant use of any but we are clear that Miss
Clephans health will be better or worse according to her
manner of living or as we call it Regimen.
We think she will be better in the Country than
in the Town. In the Country she should be as much in
the open Air as the state of the weather will allow and
by this she will be more secure against the effects of
cold than if she was to stay much within doors. But
at the same time she should guard against cold by wearing
a flannel Skirt and being otherwise warmly cloathed.
And particularly guard against being much wetted
[Page 3]
especially in her feet and legs. When she is abroad she should
be always in some exercise and she may choose the manner
she likes best. She may go in a Carriage or she may ride on
horseback or she may walk on foot. We are happy to observe
that walking which we would not have approved of some
years ago now seems to agree with her very well and we
think she may be indulged in it providing always it is
not carried so far as to heat or fatigue her.
In Diet we see little occasion for much nicity in the
choice of it. She may take the most part of ordinary fair
with this general rule that on one hand she avoid any
thing that may be heavy on her stomach and on the other
hand any thing that may be cold or windy on it. If She
digests milk easily she may take it very often and we
think meat Suppers are very improper. At Breakfast
or in the Afternoons we judge Strong Green Tea or strong
Coffee very improper for her but weak Bohea tea not
taken too largely may be generally safe.
Moderate and gentle (↑cheerful↑) Amusements may be very
[Page 4]
useful but all hurry of her spirits should be avoided and
the late hours of fashionable diversions and gay Company
will be very hazardous.
Some reading may be allowed but not much and for
time within doors some work is safer than reading and
in this True History is much safer than Novels or Sermons
These are the particulars of Regimen that have
occurred to be mentioned and we have already said that
we would wish to avoid medicines but still we have ordered
one which upon occasion may be employed to remove the
Pains of her stomach when these are in any great
degree troublesome for slight and transient Pains are
not enough to lead any Person into the habit of a medicine.
Edinr 6th April
1783
[Page 5]
For Miss Clephan
℞ Tinct. amar.
-- cort. Peruv. @ ℥ij
-- aromat. ℥jſs
ℳ. Stomachic Tincture a table
Spoonfull mixed wth two table
Spoonfulls of water to be taken
when the pains of the Stomach
are troublesome
6th April
1783.
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