The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:4665] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Mr George Mackenzie / Regarding: Mr Mackenzie (Patient) / 28 July 1783 / (Outgoing)
Reply, 'For Mackenzie'. For Mr Mackenzie's asthma, Cullen advises the use of blisters. For the patient's dropsical swelling, Cullen advises diuretics and purgatives. Includes recipes for two laxative electuaries, a laxative oil, and diuretic pills.
- 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 | 4665 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/16/69 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 28 July 1783 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Machine scribal copy |
| Enclosure(s) | Enclosure(s) present |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | Yes |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply, 'For Mackenzie'. For Mr Mackenzie's asthma, Cullen advises the use of blisters. For the patient's dropsical swelling, Cullen advises diuretics and purgatives. Includes recipes for two laxative electuaries, a laxative oil, and diuretic pills. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1569] |
Case of Mr Mackenzie who has a cough, asthma and whose body is very swollen from dropsy. |
7 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:3378] | Addressee | Mr George Mackenzie |
| [PERS ID:3380] | Patient | Mr Mackenzie |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:3379] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr James Macleod |
| [PERS ID:3378] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Mr George Mackenzie |
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 | Lechmelm (Leckmelm) | North Highlands | Scotland | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
For Mackenzie
I have received an Account of Mr. Mackenzies complaints
but the accounts are so imperfect that I cannot possibly advise
with that clearness and satisfaction that I could wish but
at the same time I will not delay a minute to advise
as well as I can.
I am told that his chief ailment is an Asthma and
Cough and for this I believe his Surgeon has very properly
employed Vomits and Blisters and if he bears the former
tolerably well I would have them repeated and if the
latter have had any good effects I would have them
repeated also but with this observation that fresh
Blisters do more service than Issues and therefore
I would have the common practice if it happens to
be employed in this Case of keeping a part of the blistered
part open as an Issue to be laid aside and rather a
fresh blister from time to time applied and in this case
it may be applied to the back, breast or side. I am further
[Page 2]
told that Mr. Mackenzie has been affected with a swelling
over his whole body and particularly in his limbs threatning
Dropsy and if this is the Case some other remedies besides
Vomits and blisters will be necessary and particularly
both Diuretics and Purgatives. As a Diuretic I would
Advise Squills and Calomel compounded as in the inclosed
prescriptions. For a Purgative he may begin with trying
the Cream of Tartar alone taking it every second day to
the quantity that is necessary to move him several times
but if this requires a large dose of it it may be employed
in a smaller dose but assisted with a quantity of the pulvis Jalapi compositus as also prescribed within. If he has formerly
agreed very well with the Castor Oil it may be still useful
compounded as in the inclosed and if it answers well it
may be taken instead of the other purgatives every other day.
I hope those hints may be useful in the mean¬
time but if I am to advise to good purpose I beg to have
a more full and distinct account of the Case with a
particular attention to the following queries.
[Page 3]
Had he been for any time liable to any difficulty of
breathing before it arose to a great degree of violence about
six weeks ago?
Had he been liable to any degree of Cough or spitting before
the same period?
Before the Disorder came on about six weeks ago,
had he been troubled with any Eruption upon his skin
and which then suddenly disappeared and of what nature
did that Eruption seem to be?
To what degree has the Asthma and Cough otherwise
affected his health with respect to feverishness, Appetite
and sleep?
Was he ever before liable to any swelling of his Ancles
at night?
At what time after the Asthma came on did the
swelling of his body appear and what parts does this
swelling especially affect and to what length does it
appear to be of the watery oedematous kind?
What has been and what is the present state of his
Urine with respect to quantity and colour.
[Page 4]
Was Mr. Mackenzie ever affected with Gout? Was it with
any regularity and has its usual returns been of late
omitted Or what reason is their to suspect Mr. Mackenzie
tendency to that disease?
Has Mr. Mackenzie ever had any Opiates for modera¬
ting the violence of his Cough and with what effects have
they been employed?
Edinburgh 28th. July
1783
[Page 5]
For Mr. Mackenzie
Take one ounce of Crystal tartar powder and enough simple Syrup in order to let there be made a Linctus. Label: Laxative Electuary; a teaspoon to be taken every half an hour till it begins to operate, beginning pretty early in the morning. If this does not operate properly, he may try the following.
Take one ounce of Crystal tartar powder, two drachms of compounded jallop Powder and enough simple Syrup in order to let there be made a Linctus. Label: Laxative Electuary; two or three teaspoons, to be taken for a Dose in the morning.
Take three ounces of the best castor Oil and one ounce of jallop Tincture. Mix. Label as Laxative Oil; a tablespoon, ↑more or less↑ to be taken for a dose in the morning.
Take twenty grains of dried squill root Powder, five grains of Calomel, twenty-five grains of prepared millipedes, two drachms of Extract of gentian and enough Syrup of Squills in order to make a Mass to be divided into forty pills. Label: Diuretic Pills; two to be taken every night and morning.
W.C.
July 28. 1783. -
Diplomatic Text
For Mackenzie
I have received an Account of Mr. Mackenzies complaints
but the accounts are so imperfect that I cannot possibly advise
with that clearness and satisfaction that I could wish but
at the same time I will not delay a minute to advise
as well as I can.
I am told that his chief ailment is an Asthma and
Cough and for this I believe his Surgeon has very properly
employed Vomits and Blisters and if he bears the former
tolerably well I would have them repeated and if the
latter have had any good effects I would have them
repeated also but with this observation that fresh
Blisters do more service than Issues and therefore
I would have the common practice if it happens to
be employed in this Case of keeping a part of the blistered
part open as an Issue to be laid aside and rather a
fresh blister from time to time applied and in this case
it may be applied to the back, breast or side. I am further
[Page 2]
told that Mr. Mackenzie has been affected with a swelling
over his whole body and particularly in his limbs threatning
Dropsy and if this is the Case some other remedies besides
Vomits and blisters will be necessary and particularly
both Diuretics and Purgatives. As a Diuretic I would
Advise Squills and Calomel compounded as in the inclosed
prescriptions. For a Purgative he may begin with trying
the Cream of Tartar alone taking it every second day to
the quantity that is necessary to move him several times
but if this requires a large dose of it it may be employed
in a smaller dose but assisted with a quantity of the pulv.
e Jalap. comp. as also prescribed within. If he has formerly
agreed very well with the Castor Oil it may be still useful
compounded as in the inclosed and if it answers well it
may be taken instead of the other purgatives every other day.
I hope those hints may be useful in the mean¬
time but if I am to advise to good purpose I beg to have
a more full and distinct account of the Case with a
particular attention to the following queries.
[Page 3]
Had he been for any time liable to any difficulty of
breathing before it arose to a great degree of violence about
six weeks ago?
Had he been liable to any degree of Cough or spitting before
the same period?
Before the Disorder came on about six weeks ago,
had he been troubled with any Eruption upon his skin
and which then suddenly disappeared and of what nature
did that Eruption seem to be?
To what degree has the Asthma and Cough otherwise
affected his health with respect to feverishness, Appetite
and sleep?
Was he ever before liable to any swelling of his Ancles
at night?
At what time after the Asthma came on did the
swelling of his body appear and what parts does this
swelling especially affect and to what length does it
appear to be of the watery oedematous kind?
What has been and what is the present state of his
Urine with respect to quantity and colour.
[Page 4]
Was Mr. Mackenzie ever affected with Gout? Was it with
any regularity and has its usual returns been of late
omitted Or what reason is their to suspect Mr. Mackenzie
tendency to that disease?
Has Mr. Mackenzie ever had any Opiates for modera¬
ting the violence of his Cough and with what effects have
they been employed?
Edinr. 28th. July
1783
[Page 5]
For Mr. Mackenzie
℞ Crystall. tartar. pulv. ℥j
Syr. simpl. q.s. ut fiat Lochoch
Sig. Laxative Electuary, a tea Spoonful to be taken
every half hour till it begins to operate, beginning
pretty early in the morning.
Si hoc minus bene responderit, utatur sequenti
℞ Crystall. tartar. pulv. ℥j
Pulv e jalap. compt. ʒij
Syr. simpl. q.s. ut fiat Lochoch.
Sig. Laxative Electuary, two or three tea spoonfuls, to
be taken for a Dose in the morning.
℞ Ol. ricin. opt. ℥iij
Tinct. jalap. ℥j
ℳ. Sig. Laxative Oil, a table Spoonful, ↑more or less↑ to be taken
for a Dose in the morning.
℞ Pulv. rad. scill. siccat. gr.xx
Calomel. gr v
Milleped. pptt. gr xxv
Extract. gentian. ʒij
Syr. Scillitic. q.s. ut fiat Massa dividenda
in pilulas quadraginta. Sig. Diuretic Pills, two to
be taken every night and morning.
W.C.
July 28. 1783. -
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