The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:5078] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Mr Alexander Copland (Coupland; of King's Grange) / Regarding: Mr Glassel (Glassell) (Patient) / 15 June 1785 / (Outgoing)
Reply, 'For Mr Glassell'. Probably addressed to Alexander Copland. Cullen recommends a journey and gives dietary advice. Aperient and stomachic recipes are included.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 7 images for this document.
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[Page 7]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 5078 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/18/61 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 15 June 1785 |
| 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 Mr Glassell'. Probably addressed to Alexander Copland. Cullen recommends a journey and gives dietary advice. Aperient and stomachic recipes are included. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1080] |
Case of Mr Glassel whose baffling feverish condition may stem from his former rheumatic complaint; he develops painful ankles, headaches and a bad stomach. |
6 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:566] | Addressee | Mr Alexander Copland (Coupland; of King's Grange) |
| [PERS ID:2396] | Patient | Mr Glassel (Glassell) |
| [PERS ID:566] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Mr Alexander Copland (Coupland; of King's Grange) |
| [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 |
| Destination of Letter | Dumfries | Borders | Scotland | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
For Mr. Glassell
I have recollected pretty fully what I for¬
merly knew of his Constitution and have now
considered as carefully as I can the circum¬
stances of his present Complaints and am
sorry to observe that his constitution is
somewhat the worse of the wearing. After
the many fatigues and labours, and he
has undergone and the many ailments he
has formerly suffered, a weakness has now
fallen upon his stomach and this seems
to be at the bottom of all his complaints.
I hope however they may all be much re¬
lieved and for that purpose I propose
the following measures
1st. I would have him immediately [or?]
as soon as business will allow set out upon
[Page 2]
a journey and to pursue it in a moderate
way for several weeks. I think travelling
at the rate of between thirty and forty
miles a day will be the most proper. In
case of very warm weather he should {illeg}
only in the mornings and [Evenings and?]
in case of very wet weather, he may t[ravel]
for half a day or a day at a time.
2 On this Journey it will [neither] be
convenient nor proper to take [m]edicines
and therefore I would advise him to take
only some plain Soap pills every Evening
from five to ten as his Stomach bears
them. Though this is the only medicine
I would advise him to take, it may be
proper for him to carry along with him
some of the pills made of Soap and
Rhubarb he has been in use to take and
{illeg}↑{illeg}↑ [if he is at?] any time costive or {illeg}
[Page 3]
[slow?] in his belly he may instead of the plain
soap take a dose of the Rhubarb pills in
the evening, or if these shall not seem quite
sufficient he may take a dose of Magnesia
and Rhubarb in the morning.
3 These are the only medicines I pro¬
pose for the road, but when he returns home
if the Journey shall not have done every
thing he wishes I have here inclosed two
prescriptions which he may employ and
I hope he shall do it with advantage.
4 Upon the road and at all other times
he must give some attention to his diet
tho' much nicity especially upon his journey
will not be required. If it can be easily pro¬
cured as he (↑it↑) generally may, he may continue to
take in the morning before he gets out of bed
a draft of fresh drawn Cow milk whey
and he will do well to {illeg} [stage?]
[Page 4]
of his Journey before he takes any other breakfast.
At this meal I would wish him to avoid entirely
[Common?] tea especially the Green and would
in place of it have him take Cocoa tea but if
that cannot be got he may take a little weak
Bohea to put over his dry toast with a little
butter, for Butter toast he should never take
When the weather does not oblige him to rest
long in the middle of the day, he may then
take a Cup of weak Chocolate with a bit of
bread and go on to finish his days Journey be¬
fore he takes dinner.
At dinner he may take a bit of any plain
meat he likes best, or he may take a bit of
any light fish, but in general he should
be sparing of Animal food, should avoid
all fat and heavy meats, all fried and
baked meats and all rich and heavy sauces.
Every thing made with grain or bread Rice
[Page 5]
Millet or Sago wmade into light pudding
or otherwise dressed are amongst the most
proper foods for him, but Roots, Greens
or any thing else from the Garden he must
take very sparingly, or not at all. Mustard
and Spiceries in moderate quantity he may
take, but Pickles of all kinds must be
avoided.
For his ordinary drink he must take
water with a little wine, or perhaps a little
spirit in it, but malt liquor of all kinds
he must avoid. It will be very allowable
to take a little strong drink at Dinner &
he may take a little of any sound and strong
bodied wine diluted with a little water
but as the condition of wine upon the road
so very uncertain I think it will be safer
for him to let alone Wine altogether and
to take Rum, or Brandy as he likes [best?]
[Page 6]
with water but the quantity must always
be very moderate. With his spirits and water
he may take a little sugar but I dont think
it will be safe for him to add any lemon to it.
If Mr Glassell takes any Supper it
should be something very light and cheifly of
the grain kind mentioned above.
1785
[Page 7]
For Mr. Glassell
Take 4 ounces of Rosewater, 3 ounces of simple Cinnamon water, an ounce of Nutmeg water, a ½ ounce of white sugar and 2 ounces of Soluble Tartar. Dissolve and Label: aperient Solution two [table?] spoonfuls to be taken in a draft of [freshly?] drawn Cows milk whey every morning {illeg}
Take an ounce of Gentian Root, 2 drachms of Columbo Root, a drachm of Orange Peel, and ½ a drachm of Jamaica Pepper. Crush thoroughly; pour over a half-pint of French brandy and 1½ pints of [Spanish?] white wine. Steep for 2 days, and strain through woollen fabric. Label: Stomachic tincture a [teaspoonful?] to be taken every day before dinner {illeg}
Diplomatic Text
For Mr. Glassell
I have recollected pretty fully what I for¬
merly knew of his Constitution and have now
considered as carefully as I can the circum¬
stances of his present Complaints and am
sorry to observe that his constitution is
somewhat the worse of the wearing. After
the many fatigues and labours, and he
has undergone and the many ailments he
has formerly suffered, a weakness has now
fallen upon his stomach and this seems
to be at the bottom of all his complaints.
I hope however they may all be much re¬
lieved and for that purpose I propose
the following measures
1st. I would have him immediately [or?]
as soon as business will allow set out upon
[Page 2]
a journey and to pursue it in a moderate
way for several weeks. I think travelling
at the rate of between thirty and forty
miles a day will be the most proper. In
case of very warm weather he should {illeg}
only in the mornings and [Evenings and?]
in case of very wet weather, he may t[ravel]
for half a day or a day at a time.
2 On this Journey it will [neither] be
convenient nor proper to take [m]edicines
and therefore I would advise him to take
only some plain Soap pills every Evening
from five to ten as his Stomach bears
them. Though this is the only medicine
I would advise him to take, it may be
proper for him to carry along with him
some of the pills made of Soap and
Rhubarb he has been in use to take and
{illeg}↑{illeg}↑ [if he is at?] any time costive or {illeg}
[Page 3]
[slow?] in his belly he may instead of the plain
soap take a dose of the Rhubarb pills in
the evening, or if these shall not seem quite
sufficient he may take a dose of Magnesia
and Rhubarb in the morning.
3 These are the only medicines I pro¬
pose for the road, but when he returns home
if the Journey shall not have done every
thing he wishes I have here inclosed two
prescriptions which he may employ and
I hope he shall do it with advantage.
4 Upon the road and at all other times
he must give some attention to his diet
tho' much nicity especially upon his journey
will not be required. If it can be easily pro¬
cured as he (↑it↑) generally may, he may continue to
take in the morning before he gets out of bed
a draft of fresh drawn Cow milk whey
and he will do well to {illeg} [stage?]
[Page 4]
of his Journey before he takes any other breakfast.
At this meal I would wish him to avoid entirely
[Common?] tea especially the Green and would
in place of it have him take Cocoa tea but if
that cannot be got he may take a little weak
Bohea to put over his dry toast with a little
butter, for Butter toast he should never take
When the weather does not oblige him to rest
long in the middle of the day, he may then
take a Cup of weak Chocolate with a bit of
bread and go on to finish his days Journey be¬
fore he takes dinner.
At dinner he may take a bit of any plain
meat he likes best, or he may take a bit of
any light fish, but in general he should
be sparing of Animal food, should avoid
all fat and heavy meats, all fried and
baked meats and all rich and heavy sauces.
Every thing made with grain or bread Rice
[Page 5]
Millet or Sago wmade into light pudding
or otherwise dressed are amongst the most
proper foods for him, but Roots, Greens
or any thing else from the Garden he must
take very sparingly, or not at all. Mustard
and Spiceries in moderate quantity he may
take, but Pickles of all kinds must be
avoided.
For his ordinary drink he must take
water with a little wine, or perhaps a little
spirit in it, but malt liquor of all kinds
he must avoid. It will be very allowable
to take a little strong drink at Dinner &
he may take a little of any sound and strong
bodied wine diluted with a little water
but as the condition of wine upon the road
so very uncertain I think it will be safer
for him to let alone Wine altogether and
to take Rum, or Brandy as he likes [best?]
[Page 6]
with water but the quantity must always
be very moderate. With his spirits and water
he may take a little sugar but I dont think
it will be safe for him to add any lemon to it.
If Mr Glassell takes any Supper it
should be something very light and cheifly of
the grain kind mentioned above.
1785
[Page 7]
For Mr. Glassell
℞ Aq. rosar. ℥iv
cinnamom simpl. ℥iij
nuci mosch. ℥j
Sacchar. alb. ℥ſs
Tart. solub. ℥ij
Solve et Sig. aperient Solution two [table?]
spoonfuls to be taken in a draft of [freshly?]
drawn Cows milk whey every morning {illeg}
℞ Radi gent. ℥j
Columb. ʒij
Cort. Aurant. ʒj
Pip. Jamaic. ʒſs
Probe contus. affunde
Sp. vin. Gall. lbſs
Vin. alb. [Hyssp.?] lbiſs
Macera per biduum et cola per pannum
laneum Sig. Stomachic tincture a [teaspoonful?]
to be taken every day before dinner {illeg}
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