The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:5407] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Dr Charles Keith / Regarding: Mr John Cook (Cooke; of Gallowhill; of Ogle. ) (Patient) / 5 February 1787 / (Outgoing)
Reply, for 'Mr John Cook', to Dr Charles Keith, enclosing an aperient prescription. Cullen is aware that Cook 'takes both Wine and Spirits in too great quantity', but 'if he chuses to take drugs rather than give up his brandy I shall not grudge to give him the best advice I can'.
- 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 | 5407 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/20/27 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 5 February 1787 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Machine copy |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | Yes |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply, for 'Mr John Cook', to Dr Charles Keith, enclosing an aperient prescription. Cullen is aware that Cook 'takes both Wine and Spirits in too great quantity', but 'if he chuses to take drugs rather than give up his brandy I shall not grudge to give him the best advice I can'. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:909] |
Case of John Cook of Gallowhill, who suffers from phlegm and other ailments exacerbated by excessive drinking. |
20 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:3387] | Addressee | Dr Charles Keith |
| [PERS ID:3495] | Patient | Mr John Cook (Cooke; of Gallowhill; of Ogle. ) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:3387] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr Charles Keith |
| [PERS ID:5202] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Mr John Wilson |
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 | Morpeth | North-East | England | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
Mr. John Cook
I am very happy in the accounts you
give me of your own health.
I have been long acquainted with Mr.
Cook's complaints and have sometimes I hope
relieved them. I have been always of opinion
that his constitution was good, and have (↑if↑) properly
managed would be generally healthy, but I have
learned from many hands that he takes both
Wine and Spirits in too great quantity, and
if he could be advised in this article, he would
need no other advice, but if he chuses to take
drugs rather than give up his brandy I shall
not grudge to give him the best advice I can.
From the full history of his complaints
which you give me I think Mr. Wilson did
very properly give him the Volatile Elixir
draughts, and the additions of Camphire, bark
and Æther which you have made are the
most judicious that could have been proposed
[Page 2]
and for occasional pains of the stomach and back
I would propose nothing else, but as it is the most
desireable to prevent the return of these ailments
I have given you on other page a prescription
for a Solution of Guaiac that may be taken more
constantly and more safely. Let him take a
table spoonful of this every night, and if that
does not keep his belly regular, let him take
also the same dose in the morning.
The Swelling of his feet is a disagreeable
symptom, but I hope it may be removed by my
medicine and by proper friction. Every morning
let his feet be gentle rubbed from below upwards
with flannel or flesh Brush, and take care
to avoid warm bathing.
I do not grudge to advise Mr. Cook without
a fee, and if I promised I will willingly perform
but he is by much too rich a man to desire it.
My Compliments to him and Mr. Wilson and believe
me to be always Most Sincerely Yours
1787/
[Page 3]
For Mr. John Cook
Take two drachms of Guaiac Gum and two drachms of white lump Sugar. Rub together into a fine powder, to which add two ounces of coarse Gum Arabic paste. Rub together again throughly, and pour over one ounce of the Edinburgh Pharmacopœia's Compound Senna Tincture, one ounce of Antimonial Wine, two and a half ounces of simple Cinnamon Water and two and a half ounces of Peppermint Water. Mix. Label: Aperient Solution; a tablespoon to be taken every night at bedtime and if necessary as much in the morning taking care always to shake the Phial very well before pouring out.
1787
Diplomatic Text
Mr. John Cook
I am very happy in the accounts you
give me of your own health.
I have been long acquainted with Mr.
Cook's complaints and have sometimes I hope
relieved them. I have been always of opinion
that his constitution was good, and have (↑if↑) properly
managed would be generally healthy, but I have
learned from many hands that he takes both
Wine and Spirits in too great quantity, and
if he could be advised in this article, he would
need no other advice, but if he chuses to take
drugs rather than give up his brandy I shall
not grudge to give him the best advice I can.
From the full history of his complaints
which you give me I think Mr. Wilson did
very properly give him the Volatile Elixir
draughts, and the additions of Camphire, bark
and Æther which you have made are the
most judicious that could have been proposed
[Page 2]
and for occasional pains of the stomach and back
I would propose nothing else, but as it is the most
desireable to prevent the return of these ailments
I have given you on other page a prescription
for a Solution of Guaiac that may be taken more
constantly and more safely. Let him take a
table spoonful of this every night, and if that
does not keep his belly regular, let him take
also the same dose in the morning.
The Swelling of his feet is a disagreeable
symptom, but I hope it may be removed by my
medicine and by proper friction. Every morning
let his feet be gentle rubbed from below upwards
with flannel or flesh Brush, and take care
to avoid warm bathing.
I do not grudge to advise Mr. Cook without
a fee, and if I promised I will willingly perform
but he is by much too rich a man to desire it.
My Compliments to him and Mr. Wilson and believe
me to be always Most Sincerely Yours
1787/
[Page 3]
For Mr. John Cook
℞ Gum. guaiac.
Sacchar. alb. duriss. @ʒij
Terito simul in pulverem tenuem cui adde
Mucilag. g. arab. crass ℥ij
Terito iterum diligenter et paulatim affunde
Tinct. sen. comp. Ph. Edin.
Vin. antimon. @ ℥j
Aq. cinnam. simpl.
–– menth. pip. @ ℥ijſs
ℳ. Sig. Aperient Solution a table
spoonful to be taken every night at bed
time and if necessary as much in the morning taking
care always to shake the Phial very well before
pouring out
1787
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