The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:512] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: [ADDRESSEE UNKNOWN] / Regarding: Mr Aulay McAulay (Patient) / 25 February 1775 / (Outgoing)
Reply 'For the Revd Mr McAulays Son'.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 3 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
[Page 3]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 512 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/3/90 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 25 February 1775 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Scribal copy ( includes Casebook Entry) |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply 'For the Revd Mr McAulays Son'. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:647] |
Case of the twelve-year-old son of the Reverend McAulay who has had headaches and fainting fits. |
2 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:272] | Patient | Mr Aulay McAulay |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:273] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Reverend Kenneth McAulay (of Calder (i.e. Cawdor)) |
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 | Cawdor | North Highlands | Scotland | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
For the Reverend Mr Mc Aulays Son.
After considering the whole of the boys history, I think
that his present ailment since the 8th Current is of the Hysteric
and convulsive kind and as a variety of spasmodic disorder for¬
merly affecting him, seem to have arisen from worms, so the
present may be owing to the same cause. But there are no
circumstances mentioned which can lead me to determine this and
therefore I am uncertain, whether to advise returning to the use
of Anthelmintics or to treat the case on the general footing of
spasmodic. At any rate I should think it necessary in the first
place to quiet the frequent fits by Opiates and particularly
by a dose of 15 or 20 drops of T. T. given the morning as soon
as he is awake letting him lye abed for an hour or two after.
[Page 2]
The dose should be given dropt on a little Sugar, or taken
in as small a bulk of liquid as possible. If this dose puts
off his fits, for some time and they threaten to return after¬
wards, I would again repeat the same dose once or perhaps --
twice in the course of a day. If it shall be found that even
the swallowing of these doses, brings on a fit, let the T. T.
be given by way of Glyster, but in larger doses, than
by the mouth, & few trials will show what if is to be
expected from Opium in this case and it must be left
to the discretion of somebody upon the spot, to determine
whether it is to be pushed or desisted from. It is possible
that Eau de Luce or other such strong Spirit held to the
nose, may be of use in stopping these fits. It is also
probable that a blister applied to the nape of the neck
may be of service. If by any of these means, the hysteric
fits can be suppressed, or at least their frequency preven¬
ted some measures may be tried, for taking off his irri¬
tability & thereby preventing the recurrence of any
spasmodic affection. For this purpose I would advice either
the Cuprum Ammoniac or Flores Zinci, if either of them
is to be had in the North Country. The use of the latter
understood I therefore need not direct at. The first is to be
given by a quarter of a grain for a dose once or twice
a day & the dose may be more and to what his stomach
can bear without sickness. It will be best made
into small doses pills with Extract of Gentian or
[Page 3]
Liquorice. These medicines besides being usefull in spasmodic
cases, are suited to destroy worms and therefore very well suited
to the present case - however the destroying of worms, is
not to be trusted to these medicines alone, but if from what
has happened to him before, it can be percieved, that
there are now any symptoms, which gives suspicion of the
presence worms, let the Calomel be again employed, but
instead of Rhubarb I would employ Gamboge as a
purgative, giving 2, 3 or 4 grams as his bowels seem
to bear. This is all I can suggest at present but
if &c.
Edinburgh February 25th. 1775.
Diplomatic Text
For the Revd Mr Mc Aulays Son.
After considering the whole of the boys history, I think
that his present ailment since the 8th Currt. is of the Hysteric
and convulsive kind and as a variety of spasmodic disorder for¬
merly affecting him, seem to have arisen from worms, so the
present may be owing to the same cause. But there are no
circumstances mentioned which can lead me to determine this and
therefore I am uncertain, whether to advise returning to the use
of Anthelmintics or to treat the case on the general footing of
spasmodic. At any rate I should think it necessary in the first
place to quiet the frequent fits by Opiates and particularly
by a dose of 15 or 20 drops of T. T. given the morng. as soon
as he is awake letting him lye abed for an hour or two after.
[Page 2]
The dose should be given dropt on a little Sugar, or taken
in as small a bulk of liquid as possible. If this dose puts
off his fits, for some time and they threaten to return after¬
wards, I would again repeat the same dose once or perhaps --
twice in the course of a day. If it shall be found that even
the swallowing of these doses, brings on a fit, let the T. T.
be given by way of Glyster, but in larger doses, than
by the mouth, & few trials will show what if is to be
expected from Opium in this case and it must be left
to the discretion of somebody upon the spot, to determine
whether it is to be pushed or desisted from. It is possible
that Eau de Luce or other such strong Spirit held to the
nose, may be of use in stopping these fits. It is also
probable that a blister applied to the nape of the neck
may be of service. If by any of these means, the hysteric
fits can be suppressed, or at least their frequency preven¬
ted some measures may be tried, for taking off his irri¬
tability & thereby preventing the recurrence of any
spasmodic affection. For this purpose I would advice either
the Cuprum Ammoniac or Flores Zinci, if either of ym
is to be had in the North Country. The use of the latter
understood I therefore need not direct at. The first is to be
given by a quarter of a grain for a dose once or twice
a day & the dose may be more and to what his stomach
can bear without sickness. It will be best made
into small doses pills with Extract of Gentian or
[Page 3]
Liquorice. These meds besides being usefull in spasmodic
cases, are suited to destroy worms and therefore very well suited
to the present case - however the destroying of worms, is
not to be trusted to these medicines alone, but if from what
has happened to him before, it can be percieved, that
there are now any symptoms, which gives suspicion of the
presence worms, let the Calomel be again employed, but
instead of Rhubarb I would employ Gamboge as a
purgative, giving 2, 3 or 4 grams as his bowels seem
to bear. This is all I can suggest at present but
if &c.
Edin.r Febr.y 25th. 1775.
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