The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:5497] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Mr William Russell (Russel; of Newbottle; later of Brancepeth Castle) / Regarding: Miss Margaret Russell (Russel; later Mrs, then Lady Drummond.) (Patient) / 27 July 1787 / (Outgoing)
Reply, for 'Miss Russel'. This letter concerns the case of Miss Russel. Cullen has received her father's letter and the case note via Ann Wilson. While the case has the appearance of scrophula, he does not think it is so. He recommends continuing sea bathing, and prescribes an aperient and ointment for the sores.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 5 images for this document.
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Metadata
Field | Data |
---|---|
DOC ID | 5497 |
RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/20/117 |
Main Language | English |
Document Direction | Outgoing |
Date | 27 July 1787 |
Annotation | None |
Type | Machine scribal copy |
Enclosure(s) | Enclosure(s) present |
Autopsy | No |
Recipe | Yes |
Regimen | No |
Letter of Introduction | No |
Case Note | No |
Summary | Reply, for 'Miss Russel'. This letter concerns the case of Miss Russel. Cullen has received her father's letter and the case note via Ann Wilson. While the case has the appearance of scrophula, he does not think it is so. He recommends continuing sea bathing, and prescribes an aperient and ointment for the sores. |
Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
---|---|---|
[Case ID:2030] |
Case of nine-year-old Miss Margaret Russell who has been treated for ulcerated tumours on her face and body. |
8 |
People linked to this document
Person ID | Role in document | Person |
---|---|---|
[PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
[PERS ID:5650] | Addressee | Mr William Russell (Russel; of Newbottle; later of Brancepeth Castle) |
[PERS ID:5651] | Patient | Miss Margaret Russell (Russel; later Mrs, then Lady Drummond.) |
[PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
[PERS ID:5650] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Mr William Russell (Russel; of Newbottle; later of Brancepeth Castle) |
[PERS ID:5654] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Miss Ann 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 | Russell House (East Farm) | Newbottle | North-East | England | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
Miss Russel
I have had the honour of your letter and
case inclosed in it by Miss Ann Wilson, and after
considering the case very attentively I give you
here my opinion and advice upon it.
The circumstances described have much
the appearance of Scrophula, but as there is not
any ground for considering this as hereditary, and
that it seldom arrives without such a cause, I
hope it is not a proper Scrophula, and may be
cured more easily than that disease commonly
is, and I am the more ready to think so, as
the remedies you mention as already employd
have been either insignificant or improper.
The only remedy that I can advise to be continued
is the Sea bathing, which though it has had
little {illeg} very dangerous if con¬
tinued {illeg} [advised it?] to be yet
[Page 2]
continued till the end of September. At the same
time I would have the Prescription inclosed to
be employed. If the dose prescribed happens
to purge her, it should be diminished, but
if it does not move her belly at all it should
be increased a little, and it ought to be so
regulated as to move her belly once a day, and
no more, and in this way ot ought to be cont¬
inued as long as she continues the Sea bathing
But let this be observed that She ought to
have the Bath if possible soon after She
gets out of bed in the morning, and it is so[on]
after she comes out of the Bath, that she
should begin to drink the prescribed water
and if it happens that she is in such a
situation as to be obliged in her Bathing to
follow the times of {illeg} but she
cannot bathe [even in?] {illeg} but and
[Page 3]
"
only in the forenoon, She must at such a time
either intermit the Bath or the water for
that day, and (↑for↑) She must never go into the
Sea soon after drinking the water, and at
such times as when the Tide falls improperly
it may be enough to take the Bath on one day
and drink the water on the other, and only when
the Bath can be got before Eight oClock of the
morning to do both on the same day.
With respect to the Sores when any crust
comes upon them, let them be washed night and
morning with a Solution of Sugar of Lead
and Rose Water putting five grains of the
former to every ounce of the latter, and when
the sores are without any crust or Scab
let them be dressed with the Ointment
prescribed on the paper inclosed.
{illeg}young Lady may have some
[broth and?] {illeg} part of light Animal food
[Page 4]
every day at dinner, making up the rest of her
Meal with Pudding and Vegetables. At Breakfast
let her take Cocoa Tea with dry toast and a very
little butter. At Supper she may take Rice
Sago, or Panada. In any of which she may
take a spoonful of Wine, and a little Powdered
Cinnamon. If She is very fond of Milk she
may have a little, either at Breakfast or Supper
but I am very averse to her taking much of
it at any time.
Edinburgh 27th. July
1787/
[Page 5]
For Miss Russell
Take two ounces of Rochelle Salts, one ounce of polychrest Salts of odorous hepar Sulphur, half an ounce of white Sugar, and four ounces each of simple cinnamon Water and spring Water. Dissolve and Label: Aperient Solution a Tablespoonful mixed with half a pint of Spring water to be taken every morning, drinking it at two Draughts at the intervals of half an hour, and finishing them an hour or half an hour before Breakfast.
Take one ounce of the London Pharmacopœia's white Ointment, half a drachm of burnt Alum, and enough olive Oil to make a Liniment. Label: Healing Liniment for dressing the open Sores.
27th July
1787/
Diplomatic Text
Miss Russel
I have had the honour of your letter and
case inclosed in it by Miss Ann Wilson, and after
considering the case very attentively I give you
here my opinion and advice upon it.
The circumstances described have much
the appearance of Scrophula, but as there is not
any ground for considering this as hereditary, and
that it seldom arrives without such a cause, I
hope it is not a proper Scrophula, and may be
cured more easily than that disease commonly
is, and I am the more ready to think so, as
the remedies you mention as already employd
have been either insignificant or improper.
The only remedy that I can advise to be continued
is the Sea bathing, which though it has had
little {illeg} very dangerous if con¬
tinued {illeg} [advised it?] to be yet
[Page 2]
continued till the end of September. At the same
time I would have the Prescription inclosed to
be employed. If the dose prescribed happens
to purge her, it should be diminished, but
if it does not move her belly at all it should
be increased a little, and it ought to be so
regulated as to move her belly once a day, and
no more, and in this way ot ought to be cont¬
inued as long as she continues the Sea bathing
But let this be observed that She ought to
have the Bath if possible soon after She
gets out of bed in the morning, and it is so[on]
after she comes out of the Bath, that she
should begin to drink the prescribed water
and if it happens that she is in such a
situation as to be obliged in her Bathing to
follow the times of {illeg} but she
cannot bathe [even in?] {illeg} but and
[Page 3]
"
only in the forenoon, She must at such a time
either intermit the Bath or the water for
that day, and (↑for↑) She must never go into the
Sea soon after drinking the water, and at
such times as when the Tide falls improperly
it may be enough to take the Bath on one day
and drink the water on the other, and only when
the Bath can be got before Eight oClock of the
morning to do both on the same day.
With respect to the Sores when any crust
comes upon them, let them be washed night and
morning with a Solution of Sugar of Lead
and Rose Water putting five grains of the
former to every ounce of the latter, and when
the sores are without any crust or Scab
let them be dressed with the Ointment
prescribed on the paper inclosed.
{illeg}young Lady may have some
[broth and?] {illeg} part of light Animal food
[Page 4]
every day at dinner, making up the rest of her
Meal with Pudding and Vegetables. At Breakfast
let her take Cocoa Tea with dry toast and a very
little butter. At Supper she may take Rice
Sago, or Panada. In any of which she may
take a spoonful of Wine, and a little Powdered
Cinnamon. If She is very fond of Milk she
may have a little, either at Breakfast or Supper
but I am very averse to her taking much of
it at any time.
Edinr. 27th. July
1787/
[Page 5]
For Miss Russell
℞ Sal. Rupell. ℥ij
–– Polychrest. hapar Sulph. redolent. ℥i
Sacchar. alb. ℥ſs
Aq. cinnam. simpl.
–– font. @ ℥iv
Solve et Sig. Aperient Solution a Table spoonful
mixed with half a pint of Spring water to be taken
every morning, drinking it at two Draughts at the
intervals of half an hour, and finishing them an
hour or half an hour before Breakfast
℞ Ung. albi Ph. Lond. ℥i
Alumin. usti ʒſs
Ol. oliv. q. s. ut f. Linimentum
Sig. Healing Liniment for dressing the
open Sores
27th July
1787/
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