The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:5162] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Dr J. M. / Regarding: Lady (Patient) / 24 October 1785 / (Outgoing)
Letter concerning the case of an unnamed female patient with an rectal disorder. Original letter had enclosed a paper cone sent as a guide to how to undertaking a small, impromptu surgical operation to correct a prolapsed rectum.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 6 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
[Page 3]
[Page 4]
[Page 5]
[Page 6]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 5162 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/18/142 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 24 October 1785 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Machine copy |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | Yes |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Letter concerning the case of an unnamed female patient with an rectal disorder. Original letter had enclosed a paper cone sent as a guide to how to undertaking a small, impromptu surgical operation to correct a prolapsed rectum. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1880] |
Case of an unnamed female patient with a rectal disorder who is informed that there is no reason she may not marry. |
3 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:3800] | Addressee | Dr J. M. |
| [PERS ID:3798] | Patient | Lady |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:3800] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr J. M. |
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 | London | London and South-East | England | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
For Miss
We have with all possible care and attention
considered the circumstances of this Case and believe
they are very fully and exactly described.
We have no doubt that the ailment has
been originally owing to Costiveness and if it
unless a constant attention is given to obviate
costiveness the Ailment cannot be removed
but by avoiding that and using the other
means we are to mention we hope it may
be at length entirely removed. We do not
find by the accounts in the case that any
pains have been taken to put up the fallen
out gut, but some pains of that kind might
have been taken at first with great advantages
[Page 2]
still some attempts must be made in that way
tho' it will be difficult now after the gut has been
so long out. Let it be tried by Setting her upon
her knees while She rests upon her elbows with
her head inclined downwards as far as She can
In this Situation with a bit of linen Cloath greased
over with hogs lard or fresh butter let the
gut be pressed gently in, but gently only
for it must not be forced strongly, and that
it does not yield at first, it may, upon
gentle trials repeated once a day. This reduc¬
tion of the gut within the fundament in
the great point to be aimed at. The time
most convenient for attempting it, is imme¬
diately after having been at Stool when
that shall happen, for upon that occasion
the gut will always be pushed out a little
See Page 293 1
[Page 3]
For Miss
Take one and a half ounces of the best Castor Oil and half an ounce of Daffy's Elixir. Mix. Label: Laxative Oil.
14th. October
1785
[Page 4]
For Miss
Take half an ounce of very fine powder of Galls, one ounce of Lard and a sufficient quantity of the best Olive Oil in order to let there be made a liniment. Label: Strengthening liniment.
W.C.
24th. October
1785
[Page 5]
more than before and the parts also then
most readily yielding. On this occasion some
people have found great benefit by employing
a piece of the Strongest writing paper formed
into a cone and greasing it over with lard
or butter, the point of it is to be inserted
into the centre of the swelling and pushing
the cone gently, the fallen out gut may be
often reduced. That you may understand
this better we have inclosed a Model of such
a cone as we Speak of 2 , but it ought to be
made of Stronger paper than that which
we have employed here. While these measures
are employed, an Ointment may be at the same
time applied for Strengthening the fallen out gut
and favouring its reduction. We have inclosed a
Prescription for it and it may be applied twice
a day and especially after some pains have
[Page 6]
been taken as above proposed for putting of the
gut. We have said above that Costivenessis to be
prevented and as long as the Cream of tartar and
Sulphur answer the purpose we would not
propose any thing else, but in case that laxative
should fail we have given a Prescription where
we think one of the best. It is to be taken by
a table Spoonful for a dose in the morning taking
care to Shake the Phial extremely well before
pouring out. This should keep the belly regular
without purging and if it does either more or
less the dose is to be diminished or increased.
With regard to the question about Marriage
we are of opinion that the getting of Children will
not do any harm, but the being with Child may
require particular management to prevent its
increasing the ailment, but we have not time
to say more at present about measures that may {illeg} necessary
William Cullen -
Edinburgh 24th. October 1785
Notes:
1: This has been added when the copy was still wet. It indicates where the narrative continues after the two recipes which have been mounted in the folio at this point, but which were presumably sent on 'papers apart'.
2: No paper cone of this type traced, but then Cullen had no especial need to retain an example on file.
Diplomatic Text
For Miss
We have with all possible care and attention
considered the circumstances of this Case and believe
they are very fully and exactly described.
We have no doubt that the ailment has
been originally owing to Costiveness and if it
unless a constant attention is given to obviate
costiveness the Ailment cannot be removed
but by avoiding that and using the other
means we are to mention we hope it may
be at length entirely removed. We do not
find by the accounts in the case that any
pains have been taken to put up the fallen
out gut, but some pains of that kind might
have been taken at first with great advantages
[Page 2]
still some attempts must be made in that way
tho' it will be difficult now after the gut has been
so long out. Let it be tried by Setting her upon
her knees while She rests upon her elbows with
her head inclined downwards as far as She can
In this Situation with a bit of linen Cloath greased
over with hogs lard or fresh butter let the
gut be pressed gently in, but gently only
for it must not be forced strongly, and that
it does not yield at first, it may, upon
gentle trials repeated once a day. This reduc¬
tion of the gut within the fundament in
the great point to be aimed at. The time
most convenient for attempting it, is imme¬
diately after having been at Stool when
that shall happen, for upon that occasion
the gut will always be pushed out a little
See Page 293 1
[Page 3]
For Miss
℞ Ol. Ricin. opt. ℥iſs
Tinct. Senn. comp. ℥ſs
ℳ. Sig. Laxative Oil
14th. Octr.
1785
[Page 4]
For Miss
℞ Gallarum Subtilissimi
Pulveratarum ℥ſs
Axung. porcin. ℥j
Ol. Olivar. opt. q. s.
it f. linimentum
Sig. Strengthening lini¬
ment.
W.C.
24th. Octr.
1785
[Page 5]
more than before and the parts also then
most readily yielding. On this occasion some
people have found great benefit by employing
a piece of the Strongest writing paper formed
into a cone and greasing it over with lard
or butter, the point of it is to be inserted
into the centre of the swelling and pushing
the cone gently, the fallen out gut may be
often reduced. That you may understand
this better we have inclosed a Model of such
a cone as we Speak of 2 , but it ought to be
made of Stronger paper than that which
we have employed here. While these measures
are employed, an Ointment may be at the same
time applied for Strengthening the fallen out gut
and favouring its reduction. We have inclosed a
Prescription for it and it may be applied twice
a day and especially after some pains have
[Page 6]
been taken as above proposed for putting of the
gut. We have said above that Costivenessis to be
prevented and as long as the Cream of tartar and
Sulphur answer the purpose we would not
propose any thing else, but in case that laxative
should fail we have given a Prescription where
we think one of the best. It is to be taken by
a table Spoonful for a dose in the morning taking
care to Shake the Phial extremely well before
pouring out. This should keep the belly regular
without purging and if it does either more or
less the dose is to be diminished or increased.
With regard to the question about Marriage
we are of opinion that the getting of Children will
not do any harm, but the being with Child may
require particular management to prevent its
increasing the ailment, but we have not time
to say more at present about measures that may {illeg} necessary
William Cullen -
Edinr. 24th. Octr. 1785
Notes:
1: This has been added when the copy was still wet. It indicates where the narrative continues after the two recipes which have been mounted in the folio at this point, but which were presumably sent on 'papers apart'.
2: No paper cone of this type traced, but then Cullen had no especial need to retain an example on file.
XML
XML file not yet available.
Feedback
Send us specfic feeback about this document [DOC ID:5162]
Please note that the Cullen Project team have now disbanded but your comments will be logged in our system and we will look at them one day...
