The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:5290] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Mr James McNab / Regarding: Mr Henry Ivie-Nicolson (Ivie) (Nicolson of Glenbervie) (Patient) / 27? June 1786 / (Outgoing)
Reply for 'Nicolson of Glenbervie, probably to James McNab, and apparently in response to Lady Nicolson's letter, which seems to have been delivered by a Mr Greig. He is advised to have a 'bathing machine' *shower-bath), fitted up in his Irish home, in imitation of those in use in Scotland. The day of writing is unclear, but inferred from position in casebook. Presumably this letter was to be taken back to Ireland by Mr Greig.
- 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 | 5290 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/19/101 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 27? June 1786 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Machine copy |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply for 'Nicolson of Glenbervie, probably to James McNab, and apparently in response to Lady Nicolson's letter, which seems to have been delivered by a Mr Greig. He is advised to have a 'bathing machine' *shower-bath), fitted up in his Irish home, in imitation of those in use in Scotland. The day of writing is unclear, but inferred from position in casebook. Presumably this letter was to be taken back to Ireland by Mr Greig. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:2555] |
Case of Henry Ivie-Nicolson of Glenbervie (attended by physicians in Waterford), who has a suspected paralytic complaint and 'dimness of sight' all of which Cullen considers 'nervous' and for which the patient undertakes electrical treatment. |
7 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:2807] | Addressee | Mr James McNab |
| [PERS ID:5787] | Patient | Mr Henry Ivie-Nicolson (Nicolson of Glenbervie) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:2807] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Mr James McNab |
| [PERS ID:2863] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Mrs Helen Nicolson |
| [PERS ID:5899] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Lady Helen Nicolson |
Places linked to this document
| Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Writing | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Destination of Letter | Waterford | South Ireland | Ireland | Europe | inferred | |
| Mentioned / Other | Scotland | Europe | certain | |||
| Mentioned / Other | Glenbervie (AKA Ardit, Airdit) | Kirkcaldy | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
Nicolson of Glenbervie
I am heartily concerned to hear of the obstinacy
of Mr. Nicolsons complaints, and I should be very happy
to advise any thing for his relief, but I am at a loss
to advise further. I have no distinct account from a
person of the profession of the precise state of his
Symptoms, nor of the remedies that have or have
not been employed, or of their affects. By the accounts
you have received I should suppose that the remedies
which I last advised had been diligently employed
but from other circumstances I have reason to doubt
of this, and particularly if the Waterford Doctors
think that the Summer Season has ↑is to↑ proved a certain
remedy to him I suspect they may be negligent
in employing other means. I am still of opinion
that Electricity diligently employed in the means
I proposed in my last, would be the most effective
means of his relief, but as it appears that no[ne?]
[Page 2]
is yet obtained I doubt if the remedy has been faithfully
employed. In the mean time in answer to the question
you propose I cannot advise his bathing in the Sea
but Cold bathing may be tried in this manner, by
beginning with a tempered water, as by taking one
part of boiling water to four parts of Spring water
and every two days afterwards keeping back an eight
part of the boiling water, he may come in the
course of a fortnight to take it quite cold and by its
being thus brought on by degrees, it may be perceived
whether it agrees, or disagrees with him, and that
accordingly they may proceed or not. Let it be
observed ↑that↑ the Cold water be always taken from
the same Spring, or deep pit well, but never
from a Brook or river, and I must conclude
with observing that the best and easiest method
of employing Cold bathing would be by employing
a Shower Bath, Such as we now consistently employ
in Scotland, and it would be easy for [any Person?]
who has Seen the Machine of this Country to
[Page 3]
fit up one in Mr. Nicolsons house. 1
I am clearly of opinion that Mr. Nicolson would
be the better for going upon a Journey to the length of
200 Miles or thereby, but must observe that if the
weather continues warm, it will be necessary for him
to confine his Travelling to the mornings and Evenings
I dont know of any Mineral waters that are
likely to be of Service to him.
This much in answer to your questions but
cannot conclude without repeating that my chief
dependence would be upon Electricity employed
diligently in the manner I proposed in my last.
If I am to give my opinion to Lady Nicolson in a
sincere manner I must Say that the Case is a very unfa¬
vourable one, and that the obstinacy it has now shown
and the present state of it make me now apprehend that
it may turn out more and more Paralytic, but I think
it would be a pity to disturb Mrs. Nicolson by giving
her this unfavourable account of it, but I must leave
this to Lady Nicolsons own discretion. I am
Notes:
1: For Cullen's "Bathing Machine", an indoor shower-bath employing a tub suspended on ropes and pulleys, see Letter ID:82 (CUL/1/1/77), which includes his diagram of the design.
Diplomatic Text
Nicolson of Glenbervie
I am heartily concerned to hear of the obstinacy
of Mr. Nicolsons complaints, and I should be very happy
to advise any thing for his relief, but I am at a loss
to advise further. I have no distinct account from a
person of the profession of the precise state of his
Symptoms, nor of the remedies that have or have
not been employed, or of their affects. By the accounts
you have received I should suppose that the remedies
which I last advised had been diligently employed
but from other circumstances I have reason to doubt
of this, and particularly if the Waterford Doctors
think that the Summer Season has ↑is to↑ proved a certain
remedy to him I suspect they may be negligent
in employing other means. I am still of opinion
that Electricity diligently employed in the means
I proposed in my last, would be the most effective
means of his relief, but as it appears that no[ne?]
[Page 2]
is yet obtained I doubt if the remedy has been faithfully
employed. In the mean time in answer to the question
you propose I cannot advise his bathing in the Sea
but Cold bathing may be tried in this manner, by
beginning with a tempered water, as by taking one
part of boiling water to four parts of Spring water
and every two days afterwards keeping back an eight
part of the boiling water, he may come in the
course of a fortnight to take it quite cold and by its
being thus brought on by degrees, it may be perceived
whether it agrees, or disagrees with him, and that
accordingly they may proceed or not. Let it be
observed ↑that↑ the Cold water be always taken from
the same Spring, or deep pit well, but never
from a Brook or river, and I must conclude
with observing that the best and easiest method
of employing Cold bathing would be by employing
a Shower Bath, Such as we now consistently employ
in Scotland, and it would be easy for [any Person?]
who has Seen the Machine of this Country to
[Page 3]
fit up one in Mr. Nicolsons house. 1
I am clearly of opinion that Mr. Nicolson would
be the better for going upon a Journey to the length of
200 Miles or thereby, but must observe that if the
weather continues warm, it will be necessary for him
to confine his Travelling to the mornings and Evenings
I dont know of any Mineral waters that are
likely to be of Service to him.
This much in answer to your questions but
cannot conclude without repeating that my chief
dependence would be upon Electricity employed
diligently in the manner I proposed in my last.
If I am to give my opinion to Lady Nicolson in a
sincere manner I must Say that the Case is a very unfa¬
vourable one, and that the obstinacy it has now shown
and the present state of it make me now apprehend that
it may turn out more and more Paralytic, but I think
it would be a pity to disturb Mrs. Nicolson by giving
her this unfavourable account of it, but I must leave
this to Lady Nicolsons own discretion. I am
Notes:
1: For Cullen's "Bathing Machine", an indoor shower-bath employing a tub suspended on ropes and pulleys, see Letter ID:82 (CUL/1/1/77), which includes his diagram of the design.
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