The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:4627] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Dr William Hamilton (in Glasgow) / Regarding: Mr Thomas Alston (Patient) / 8 May 1783 / (Outgoing)
Reply concerning the case of Mr Alston, written to an addressee Cullen refers to as William [Hamilton]. Cullen recommends a sea voyage, 'going several times backwards and forwards between Leith and London', and going to the Highlands for a goat whey cure. He does not recommend the Loch Lomond area, but Perthshire. The scribe has clearly misread or misheard Cullen's mention of 'Perthshire' (since he specifically names Crieff and Dunkeld), and has written 'Persia'.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 3 images for this document.
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[Page 2]
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Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 4627 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/16/32 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 8 May 1783 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Machine scribal copy |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply concerning the case of Mr Alston, written to an addressee Cullen refers to as William [Hamilton]. Cullen recommends a sea voyage, 'going several times backwards and forwards between Leith and London', and going to the Highlands for a goat whey cure. He does not recommend the Loch Lomond area, but Perthshire. The scribe has clearly misread or misheard Cullen's mention of 'Perthshire' (since he specifically names Crieff and Dunkeld), and has written 'Persia'. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:671] |
Case of Mr Thomas Alston who spits blood and consequently has a poor prognosis and whose case eventually proves fatal. |
13 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:175] | Addressee | Dr William Hamilton (in Glasgow) |
| [PERS ID:554] | Patient | Mr Thomas Alston |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:175] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Hamilton (in Glasgow) |
Places linked to this document
| Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Destination of Letter | Glasgow | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | inferred | |
| Therapeutic Recommendation | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | certain | ||
| Therapeutic Recommendation | Crieff | Mid Scotland | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Therapeutic Recommendation | Dunkeld | Mid Scotland | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Therapeutic Recommendation | London | London and South-East | England | Europe | certain | |
| Therapeutic Recommendation | Perthshire | Mid Scotland | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Mentioned / Other | Glasgow | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Mentioned / Other | Leith | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Mentioned / Other | Loch Lomond | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
Mr Alston
I have seen your patient Mr Alston and though
all his ailments at present seem to be more moderate I
am sorry to find however that all of them remain in some
degree and will still require some attention and pains.
For his management during the Summer I am clear that
he cannot go to reside in a warm Climate but with the
utmost hazard as I think a very warm Climate would
be very hurtful to both his Pectoral and Nervous com¬
plaints. But for relieving both I would willingly give
him a Sea Voyage with some change of Climate and
manner of life but how this is to be execute the People
who know the date of our Trade and Navigation can tell
much better than I but if no better can be devised
I would propose his going several times backwards
and forwards between Leith and London.
If something of this kind cannot be proposed or
[Page 2]
submitted to he must live constantly in the Country and take
there what exercise he can easily bear but better than living
at home I think he should go to the Highlands and drink
Goat whey. In doing this however I think the places on the
side of Lochlomond to which the people of Glasgow commonly
resort are too low and closs and that he should seek for a
higher, cooler and more airy situation. Such perhaps may
be found in the West but I am more certain of their being
found in Persia 1 in the neighbourhood of Crief or Dunkeld
When one or other of the measures mentioned shall
be agreed on I shall be ready to give him what my time
will not allow me to do now, more particular directions
for his conduct. In the mean time I think the Regimen
he has observed for some time past should be still continued
With respect to Bloodletting I hope there will be no
occasion for it but this must be left as it has hitherto
been to your discretion. Expecting we are to have a
[Page 3]
further correspondence on this Subject I am as always
your most Obedient Servant
1783
Notes:
1: An obvious mishearing of 'Perthshire' on the part of the transcriber and, as such, unusually firm evidence of dictation.
Diplomatic Text
Mr Alston
I have seen your patient Mr Alston and though
all his ailments at present seem to be more moderate I
am sorry to find however that all of them remain in some
degree and will still require some attention and pains.
For his management during the Summer I am clear that
he cannot go to reside in a warm Climate but with the
utmost hazard as I think a very warm Climate would
be very hurtful to both his Pectoral and Nervous com¬
plaints. But for relieving both I would willingly give
him a Sea Voyage with some change of Climate and
manner of life but how this is to be execute the People
who know the date of our Trade and Navigation can tell
much better than I but if no better can be devised
I would propose his going several times backwards
and forwards between Leith and London.
If something of this kind cannot be proposed or
[Page 2]
submitted to he must live constantly in the Country and take
there what exercise he can easily bear but better than living
at home I think he should go to the Highlands and drink
Goat whey. In doing this however I think the places on the
side of Lochlomond to which the people of Glasgow commonly
resort are too low and closs and that he should seek for a
higher, cooler and more airy situation. Such perhaps may
be found in the West but I am more certain of their being
found in Persia 1 in the neighbourhood of Crief or Dunkeld
When one or other of the measures mentioned shall
be agreed on I shall be ready to give him what my time
will not allow me to do now, more particular directions
for his conduct. In the mean time I think the Regimen
he has observed for some time past should be still continued
With respect to Bloodletting I hope there will be no
occasion for it but this must be left as it has hitherto
been to your discretion. Expecting we are to have a
[Page 3]
further correspondence on this Subject I am as always
your most Obedient Servant
1783
Notes:
1: An obvious mishearing of 'Perthshire' on the part of the transcriber and, as such, unusually firm evidence of dictation.
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