The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:4939] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Dr / Regarding: Mr George Crawford (Patient) / 30 October 1784 / (Outgoing)
Reply, 'For George Crawford Esqr'.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 8 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
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[Page 8]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 4939 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/17/133 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 30 October 1784 |
| 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, 'For George Crawford Esqr'. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1710] |
Case of George Crawford who has a serious chest complaint. |
2 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:2917] | Addressee | Dr |
| [PERS ID:2916] | Patient | Mr George Crawford |
| [PERS ID:2917] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr |
| [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 |
| Mentioned / Other | Britain | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
For George Crawford Esqr.
Having attentively considered the past history and
present state of his complaints I must conclude that
his breast from perhaps his Infancy but more certain¬
ly since the year 1775 has been threatened with
dangerous ailments. I judge therefore that the pre¬
cautions in point of diet, exercise, and otherwise
that have been taken were very proper and will
still be proper at the approach of every winter
which will always threaten and have a tendency to
bring back his complaints.
At present I dont find his pulse so well
settled as I could wish. It is not only more fre¬
quent than natural but has a remarkable jerk
in it or quickness of stroke in it and which
[Page 2]
I always consider as [denoting?] a tendency to inflammation
I must [therefore?] advise as soon as he is Settled for
two days at home that ten or twelve Ounces of blood
be taken from his Arm and that he rests for the
whole of the day after it for I hold that Exercise
either before or after bleeding is very improper.
Except in such a Case I would wish him to take
exercise either on horse back or in a Carriage for
three hours every forenoon, that is tolerably mild.
If fair on horseback, or if wet and not very muc[h]
so in a Carriage. In the Case of fresh in the least
severe I would wish him to Stay at home alto¬
gether. I find he has bore a good deal of walking
better than I expected but I must still maint[ain]
that bodily exercise to the degree of heating or
fatiguing is extremely hazardous to every pers[on]
whose
[Page 3]
whose breast is any ways faulty.
In taking Exercise and at all other times nothing
is more necessary to Mr Crawford than his guarding
against Cold. For this purpose he should have always
flannel or woolen every where next his Skin
and be otherwise always warmly Cloathed taking great
care to avoid changes from a thicker to a thinner dress
Let him also carefully avoid all moisture parti¬
cularly from rooms he occupies in a middle temperature
and never very warm but let them be rather large
and free from all Sifting airs. For the whole of
the Winter Season he should not be abread after
dinner.
As the important part of his conduct is the
guarding against cold and that this is always
difficult during the Winter Season is the Climate
[Page 4]
of Britain it is [faulty?] a question whether Mr Crawford
{illeg} be a better Climate for the Winter. To this
question I can positively answer that it would be
much his safest course and if particular business
does not stand in the way he should certainly go
but to say what is absolutely necessary for him
is very difficult. I don't think Mr Crawford
very bad and I have seen persons worse who
have stood this Climate tolerably well but must
own that unless he recovers very greatly during
the month of November, his remaining longer
in this Country would be hazardous and as I
would say Sailing too near the wind.
Wherever he shall be a good deal of attention
to his diet will be very necessary. It seems for
sometime past to have been very properly ordered
and I have little to say but to bid him continue
living almost entirely upon Milk, grain, fruit
[Page 5]
and other Vegetables. He may vary his diet by
every variety of the grain kind as Wheat Rice
Barley, Millet, Sago and even Oat meal and
these may be compounded with all kind of fruit
as all the fresh which the season affords and
the dried fruit, figs, Raisins and Currants, with
all kinds of preserved fruits. With respect to
other Vegetables he may take a part of them
but I would not have him take largely of greens
and roots. Dry mealy potatoes are among the
safest. With respect to Animal food he may
certainly take a little of the lighter kinds as
Chicken or other tender white fowl, Rabbit
Tripe or Sweetbread. Of these he may take a
little at Dinner time but it ought always
to be sparingly and as a small part of his
Meal only. In like manner he may take
[Page 6]
a little of the lighter kinds of white fish as Haddock
whiting, flounder ↑or Codling↑ but always boiled and Served with
a light Sauce. With respect to the whole of Animal
food if he ever finds that after taking it he is
warm, flushed or drowsy he may certainly con¬
clud he has taken too much.
Upon the Article of Drink he may at
dinner take a glass or two of any kind of wine
{illeg} likes best but he should go no further and in
{illeg} stronger kinds as Madeira, Strong Sherry
or red Port he should always take them mixed
[with wa]ter. For the rest of his drink he must
keep to water and watery liquors as Gruel and
Barley water. Spirituous and Malt liquors
of any kind are very improper. Tea and Coffee
[in m]oderate quantity and not too strong are
[Page 7]
very allowable.
I have thus Spoken of the several articles
of Regimen upon which especially Mr Crawford
must depend for his safety but some remedies
may also be useful and even necessary. Such
as the bleeding I mentioned above and I not only
think it necessary at present but if any
difficulty of breathing, or hardness of Cough should
continue or come on with the same state of pulse
that I find at present I am clear that the
bleeding should be repeated in a week or two
after.
I am of opinion also that Mr Crawford [should?]
be the better for an Issue. It may be put into
one of his Arms and should be kept open for
the whole of the following Winter and Spring
An open belly and even some evacuation
[Page 8]
this way is often useful in such cases but the
ordinary state of Mr Crawfords bowels renders
any kind of laxatives unnecessary and will
require a great deal of caution in employing
them if they should seem to be demanded.
I will not advise any medicines at
present but if any new occurrences shall
seem to require it I shall be ready to give
what further Advice I possibly can.
William Cullen
Edinburgh 30th. October
1784
Diplomatic Text
For George Crawford Esqr.
Having attentively considered the past history and
present state of his complaints I must conclude that
his breast from perhaps his Infancy but more certain¬
ly since the year 1775 has been threatened with
dangerous ailments. I judge therefore that the pre¬
cautions in point of diet, exercise, and otherwise
that have been taken were very proper and will
still be proper at the approach of every winter
which will always threaten and have a tendency to
bring back his complaints.
At present I dont find his pulse so well
settled as I could wish. It is not only more fre¬
quent than natural but has a remarkable jerk
in it or quickness of stroke in it and which
[Page 2]
I always consider as [denoting?] a tendency to inflammation
I must [therefore?] advise as soon as he is Settled for
two days at home that ten or twelve Ounces of blood
be taken from his Arm and that he rests for the
whole of the day after it for I hold that Exercise
either before or after bleeding is very improper.
Except in such a Case I would wish him to take
exercise either on horse back or in a Carriage for
three hours every forenoon, that is tolerably mild.
If fair on horseback, or if wet and not very muc[h]
so in a Carriage. In the Case of fresh in the least
severe I would wish him to Stay at home alto¬
gether. I find he has bore a good deal of walking
better than I expected but I must still maint[ain]
that bodily exercise to the degree of heating or
fatiguing is extremely hazardous to every pers[on]
whose
[Page 3]
whose breast is any ways faulty.
In taking Exercise and at all other times nothing
is more necessary to Mr Crawford than his guarding
against Cold. For this purpose he should have always
flannel or woolen every where next his Skin
and be otherwise always warmly Cloathed taking great
care to avoid changes from a thicker to a thinner dress
Let him also carefully avoid all moisture parti¬
cularly from rooms he occupies in a middle temperature
and never very warm but let them be rather large
and free from all Sifting airs. For the whole of
the Winter Season he should not be abread after
dinner.
As the important part of his conduct is the
guarding against cold and that this is always
difficult during the Winter Season is the Climate
[Page 4]
of Britain it is [faulty?] a question whether Mr Crawford
{illeg} be a better Climate for the Winter. To this
question I can positively answer that it would be
much his safest course and if particular business
does not stand in the way he should certainly go
but to say what is absolutely necessary for him
is very difficult. I don't think Mr Crawford
very bad and I have seen persons worse who
have stood this Climate tolerably well but must
own that unless he recovers very greatly during
the month of November, his remaining longer
in this Country would be hazardous and as I
would say Sailing too near the wind.
Wherever he shall be a good deal of attention
to his diet will be very necessary. It seems for
sometime past to have been very properly ordered
and I have little to say but to bid him continue
living almost entirely upon Milk, grain, fruit
[Page 5]
and other Vegetables. He may vary his diet by
every variety of the grain kind as Wheat Rice
Barley, Millet, Sago and even Oat meal and
these may be compounded with all kind of fruit
as all the fresh which the season affords and
the dried fruit, figs, Raisins and Currants, with
all kinds of preserved fruits. With respect to
other Vegetables he may take a part of them
but I would not have him take largely of greens
and roots. Dry mealy potatoes are among the
safest. With respect to Animal food he may
certainly take a little of the lighter kinds as
Chicken or other tender white fowl, Rabbit
Tripe or Sweetbread. Of these he may take a
little at Dinner time but it ought always
to be sparingly and as a small part of his
Meal only. In like manner he may take
[Page 6]
a little of the lighter kinds of white fish as Haddock
whiting, flounder ↑or Codling↑ but always boiled and Served with
a light Sauce. With respect to the whole of Animal
food if he ever finds that after taking it he is
warm, flushed or drowsy he may certainly con¬
clud he has taken too much.
Upon the Article of Drink he may at
dinner take a glass or two of any kind of wine
{illeg} likes best but he should go no further and in
{illeg} stronger kinds as Madeira, Strong Sherry
or red Port he should always take them mixed
[with wa]ter. For the rest of his drink he must
keep to water and watery liquors as Gruel and
Barley water. Spirituous and Malt liquors
of any kind are very improper. Tea and Coffee
[in m]oderate quantity and not too strong are
[Page 7]
very allowable.
I have thus Spoken of the several articles
of Regimen upon which especially Mr Crawford
must depend for his safety but some remedies
may also be useful and even necessary. Such
as the bleeding I mentioned above and I not only
think it necessary at present but if any
difficulty of breathing, or hardness of Cough should
continue or come on with the same state of pulse
that I find at present I am clear that the
bleeding should be repeated in a week or two
after.
I am of opinion also that Mr Crawford [should?]
be the better for an Issue. It may be put into
one of his Arms and should be kept open for
the whole of the following Winter and Spring
An open belly and even some evacuation
[Page 8]
this way is often useful in such cases but the
ordinary state of Mr Crawfords bowels renders
any kind of laxatives unnecessary and will
require a great deal of caution in employing
them if they should seem to be demanded.
I will not advise any medicines at
present but if any new occurrences shall
seem to require it I shall be ready to give
what further Advice I possibly can.
William Cullen
Edinr. 30th. Octr.
1784
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