The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:530] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: [ADDRESSEE UNKNOWN] / Regarding: Colonel John Robinson (Robertson) (Patient), Mrs Parker (Patient) / 16 April 1782 / (Outgoing)
Reply, for 'Mrs Parker'. Mrs Parker suffers from a schirrosity of the breast. Cullen recommends medicinal and dietary solutions. He also recommends Mrs Parker refrain from wearing 'hard stays', and to opt instead for softer bodices. The letter also mentions 'your friend Colonel Robertson'. An annotation at the end of page six reads, 'turn over', though the content is missing.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 6 images for this document.
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[Page 2]
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[Page 6]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 530 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/15/13 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 16 April 1782 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Machine scribal copy |
| Enclosure(s) | Enclosure(s) mentioned, but missing |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | Yes |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply, for 'Mrs Parker'. Mrs Parker suffers from a schirrosity of the breast. Cullen recommends medicinal and dietary solutions. He also recommends Mrs Parker refrain from wearing 'hard stays', and to opt instead for softer bodices. The letter also mentions 'your friend Colonel Robertson'. An annotation at the end of page six reads, 'turn over', though the content is missing. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1261] |
Case of Mrs Parker who has a schirrosity of her breast. |
5 |
| [Case ID:1400] |
Case of Colonel John Robinson whose flatulent stomach disorder does not improve with the medicines. |
3 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:3414] | Patient | Colonel John Robinson (Robertson) |
| [PERS ID:3425] | Patient | Mrs Parker |
| [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 | Penrith | North-West | England | Europe | inferred | |
| Therapeutic Recommendation | Cheltenham | South-West | England | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
Mrs Parker
I had the favour of yours by Mrs
Parker and have carefully examined the state
of her breast. The Schirrosity is considerable, but
as it has not yet become painful or shewing
a disposition in any part to inflame, I hope
she may carry it long without any trouble
and it is possible, that it may not only be
preserved in an indolent State; but that even
it may be in some measure resolved.
To favour these purposes, I would have
you to put upon her the use of the Cicuta and
I prefer the using it in substance to every other
form of preparation. If you have not already
the dried Herb, you may get it very soon, for I
hold it to be in the best condition in a week or
two after it first appears above ground or at least
[Page 2]
as soon as it has got any ↑tolerably↑ strong smell -- In
that state you should dry it by a sudden
heat and in the manner directed in our Dis¬
pensatory, and when properly dried, let it be
kept in close stopt Phials and of a small
size, that there may not be occasion to open
them often, before the whole contents of
one Phial can be consumed.
Of this Powder made into Pills with some
strong Mucilage or Extract of Gentian, let
Mrs Parker take a Dose twice a day, begin¬
ning with three Grains, but increasing it
every two days, till she finds some sensible
effects from it, as, some sickness at Stomach
some giddiness or some Tremor over her body.
When these symptoms come on you should no
longer increase the Dose but continue at
[Page 3]
the same dose for eight ten or more days
till the Dose has no longer any sensible
effects and then you may increase it again
till it has. In this way let her go on for
two or three months, especially if in the mean
time you find the hardness yeilding and the
Tumour diminishing.
This is the cure, that I can most confidently
propose and I can assure you, that upon occasion
I have found it successful. During the use of
it, she should use a moderate Diet of little
Animal food and much of milk and vege¬
tables avoiding carefully all salted meats
and all high seasoned. She should take no
Fish at all and very sparingly of Eggs or
Cheese. Let her ordinary drink be water
avoiding all kinds of fermented or Spirituous
[Page 4]
liquors. She may take Exercise in a Carriage
freely or on horseback moderately; but much
bodily exercise she must carefully avoid any
strong exercise with her hands and Arms
and either by exercise or otherwise she must
avoid being much heated. Let her breast be
kept constantly covered with a piece of Fur
and otherwise let her avoid cold coming near
it. The breast maybe readily hurt by close
and warm (↑hard↑) Stays, she would do better to
avoid whalebone Stays and to wear some
kind of softer Boddice, taking care however
that they are equally warm with what she
has been formerly acustomed to.
These directions I think it proper to write
to you, but I must give you the trouble of
prescribing what here relates to her own
[Page 5]
conduct and in putting this into her hands
you will please enjoin her now and after
wards to a strict observance of it.
It will be proper at all times to keep
her Belly regular and once a week or
oftener when it seems necessary she should
take a gentle Dose of Polychrest, Glauber
Salt Creme of Tartar or Salt of Rochelle.
Whatever hopes I have of this Case I
cannot finish my advice without saying
that in any such Case we are often disap¬
pointed and if instead of the hardness softe¬
ning ↑and the Tumour diminishing↑ the contrary happens with pains coming
on; I would then earnestly advise extirpation
and I would not have you wait long for the
execution of this. The present state of the
[Page 6]
Tumour and hardness are very favourable
to this as neither the Tumour nor hardness
point in the least towards the Arm Pit, for
when they do, I hold extirpation to be useless.
Tho this Case is none of those in which I can
be most confident of success I am however very
much obliged to you for sending it to me. and
am with much regard
Dear Sir,
Your most obedient Servant
I had more confidence in the advice I gave to
your friend Colonel Robertson and if he shall
still be pleased to try the Cheltenham Waters
I still expect some credit by my advice.
Please offer my most respectful Complimen[ts]
to him and am yours &c
turn over
Diplomatic Text
Mrs Parker
I had the favour of yours by Mrs
Parker and have carefully examined the state
of her breast. The Schirrosity is considerable, but
as it has not yet become painful or shewing
a disposition in any part to inflame, I hope
she may carry it long without any trouble
and it is possible, that it may not only be
preserved in an indolent State; but that even
it may be in some measure resolved.
To favour these purposes, I would have
you to put upon her the use of the Cicuta and
I prefer the using it in substance to every other
form of preparation. If you have not already
the dried Herb, you may get it very soon, for I
hold it to be in the best condition in a week or
two after it first appears above ground or at least
[Page 2]
as soon as it has got any ↑tolerably↑ strong smell -- In
that state you should dry it by a sudden
heat and in the manner directed in our Dis¬
pensatory, and when properly dried, let it be
kept in close stopt Phials and of a small
size, that there may not be occasion to open
them often, before the whole contents of
one Phial can be consumed.
Of this Powder made into Pills with some
strong Mucilage or Extract of Gentian, let
Mrs Parker take a Dose twice a day, begin¬
ning with three Grains, but increasing it
every two days, till she finds some sensible
effects from it, as, some sickness at Stomach
some giddiness or some Tremor over her body.
When these symptoms come on you should no
longer increase the Dose but continue at
[Page 3]
the same dose for eight ten or more days
till the Dose has no longer any sensible
effects and then you may increase it again
till it has. In this way let her go on for
two or three months, especially if in the mean
time you find the hardness yeilding and the
Tumour diminishing.
This is the cure, that I can most confidently
propose and I can assure you, that upon occasion
I have found it successful. During the use of
it, she should use a moderate Diet of little
Animal food and much of milk and vege¬
tables avoiding carefully all salted meats
and all high seasoned. She should take no
Fish at all and very sparingly of Eggs or
Cheese. Let her ordinary drink be water
avoiding all kinds of fermented or Spirituous
[Page 4]
liquors. She may take Exercise in a Carriage
freely or on horseback moderately; but much
bodily exercise she must carefully avoid any
strong exercise with her hands and Arms
and either by exercise or otherwise she must
avoid being much heated. Let her breast be
kept constantly covered with a piece of Fur
and otherwise let her avoid cold coming near
it. The breast maybe readily hurt by close
and warm (↑hard↑) Stays, she would do better to
avoid whalebone Stays and to wear some
kind of softer Boddice, taking care however
that they are equally warm with what she
has been formerly acustomed to.
These directions I think it proper to write
to you, but I must give you the trouble of
prescribing what here relates to her own
[Page 5]
conduct and in putting this into her hands
you will please enjoin her now and after
wards to a strict observance of it.
It will be proper at all times to keep
her Belly regular and once a week or
oftener when it seems necessary she should
take a gentle Dose of Polychrest, Glauber
Salt Creme of Tartar or Salt of Rochelle.
Whatever hopes I have of this Case I
cannot finish my advice without saying
that in any such Case we are often disap¬
pointed and if instead of the hardness softe¬
ning ↑and the Tumour diminishing↑ the contrary happens with pains coming
on; I would then earnestly advise extirpation
and I would not have you wait long for the
execution of this. The present state of the
[Page 6]
Tumour and hardness are very favourable
to this as neither the Tumour nor hardness
point in the least towards the Arm Pit, for
when they do, I hold extirpation to be useless.
Tho this Case is none of those in which I can
be most confident of success I am however very
much obliged to you for sending it to me. and
am with much regard
Dear Sir,
Your most obedient Servant
I had more confidence in the advice I gave to
your friend Colonel Robertson and if he shall
still be pleased to try the Cheltenham Waters
I still expect some credit by my advice.
Please offer my most respectful Complimen[ts]
to him and am yours &c
turn over
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