The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:5927] From: Dr Henry Cullen (Harry, Dr Henry, "the young doctor" ) / To: Reverend Matthew Surtees / Regarding: Reverend Matthew Surtees (Patient) / 11 January 1790 / (Outgoing)
Reply by Henry Cullen titled 'Rev Mr Surtees'. The patient's ailment seems 'entirely constitutional', so may be impossible to remove entirely. He gives dietary and exercise advice, and instructions for bathing using the shower bath (not a numbered regimen, however), with a prescription. Henry explains that his father received 'yours of the 9th Decr', but that 'at the time he was extremely indisposed, and his ailment has gained so much ground upon him as to render him at present incapable of attending to business of any kind'. Henry's remark, 'Could I have conversed with my Father on the subject' may imply that Cullen can no longer speak.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 8 images for this document.
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Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 5927 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/21/197 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 11 January 1790 |
| 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 by Henry Cullen titled 'Rev Mr Surtees'. The patient's ailment seems 'entirely constitutional', so may be impossible to remove entirely. He gives dietary and exercise advice, and instructions for bathing using the shower bath (not a numbered regimen, however), with a prescription. Henry explains that his father received 'yours of the 9th Decr', but that 'at the time he was extremely indisposed, and his ailment has gained so much ground upon him as to render him at present incapable of attending to business of any kind'. Henry's remark, 'Could I have conversed with my Father on the subject' may imply that Cullen can no longer speak. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:2359] |
Case of the Revd Matthew Surtees who since his youth has suffered from what he calls hectic and nervous irritability. |
3 |
| [Case ID:2567] |
Case of Dr William Cullen. This links together some significant instances where Cullen mentions in passing his own illhealth, and letters in which his son Henry, standing in to respond to patients, mentions his father's increasing indisposition and terminal decline from late 1789 (not fully comprehensive). |
8 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:544] | Author | Dr Henry Cullen (Harry, Dr Henry, "the young doctor" ) |
| [PERS ID:4333] | Addressee | Reverend Matthew Surtees |
| [PERS ID:4333] | Patient | Reverend Matthew Surtees |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:544] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr Henry Cullen (Harry, Dr Henry, "the young doctor" ) |
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 | University College | Oxford | East | England | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
Revd. Mr. Surtees
My Father Dr Cullen was honou¬
red with yours of the 9th. December but at that
time he was extremely indisposed, and his
ailment has gained so much ground upon him
as to render him at present incapable of
attending to business of any kind. I think
it my duty to acquaint you of this, which
I delayed doing, from the hopes of my
Fathers getting better. While I inform
you of this, I think it also my duty to
offer you my opinion and advice respec¬
ting your complaints.
The particular symptoms which
you have narrated seem to be entirely
constitutional, and as they have so con¬
stantly attended you through life I am
afraid it will be extremely difficult
[Page 2]
and perhaps impossible to remedy them to
any considerable degree, but I hope that
they may be considerably alleviated. I am
more inclined to be of this opinion from y[our]
time of life, as you are now approachi[ing]
to that period when the Nervous System
acquires its greatest firmness and vigou[r]
I am not of opinion that your complain[ts]
can be much benefited by medicine, whic[h]
at the best could afford you but a tempora[ry]
relief.
What I think should deserve your
particular attention is your diet and Exer[cise]
with the use of the Cold Bath.
With respect to diet, it should be a[t]
all times of light meats, avoiding with
much care rich or fat meats, high seaso[ned]
sauces, and also guarding against ever ma[king]
too full a meal.
[Page 3]
You may after dinner take a few glasses
of Wine, but it ought to be a few only. For
ordinary drink, it may be either toast water
or at times a little Porter.
Your Supper ought to be of milk
meats, and at no time should be of Animal
food. Indian tea and Coffee are both very
improper for you, and in place of either, you
may take Cocoa tea, or a tea made of some of
our home growth herbs, such as Balm or
Sage &c. and with one or other of these, you
may take dry toast with a very little Butter
You should at no time take any sweets
such as Jelly, Marmalade &c. with your
bread.
You do not mention in what mode
you take exercise, but this should require
your particular attention. Walking
gently may be of service, but you cannot
[Page 4]
take so much of it as to be very beneficial
without the danger of inducing fatigue. The
exercise I would particularly recommend
is the Riding on horseback, which you
should practise daily. If you should not
be accustomed to much Riding, a little
time will make it familiar and easy
to you, and it should never be omitted, but
in very bad weather.Your Ride should
always be finished at least an hour before
dinner.
You should be always rather warmly
cloathed, and should wear flannel next
your Skin. You must avoid being exposed
to having your feet wet, and therefore
should wear footsocks and thick Shoes
You should go to bed early and never
be long in bed in the morning.
[Page 5]
You have not either said any thing
relating to the state of your bowels, and I
therefore suppose they are regular. If however
you should at any time be inclined to
costiveness, you should have recourse to
a gentle laxative, and the one prescribed on
the paper apart, I hope will answer the
purpose.
You ought to avoid with much caution
Sitting in warm Chambers, or Chambers
crouded with company. At the same time
permit me to say that I think you
ought by no means to shun company or
indulge yourself with being alone.
I should hope that you might derive
good effects from Cold Bathing, but as this
is not the season in which you might
make a trial of Sea bathing, I would
[Page 6]
recommend the use of the Chamber or Show[er]
Bath. At first the Cold water must be tem¬
pered with a proportion of boiling water.
Take three gallons English of Spring water
immediately taken from the spring. To
this put one gallon of boiling water. This
Bath you are to use at first only every
other day, but at every third time of using
it, you are to diminish the boiling water
by one pint, adding cold water in the
same proportion, till at last you can
bear the cold water without any additio[n]
of warm, and if you think that you
have either benefit by it, or have not
been the worse for it, you should in a
week or two use it every day. I have
only one thing more relating to it, to
observe. At first to prevent the Shock
being too great, you should stand upon
[Page 7]
a short Stool, so as that the Crown of your
head may be very near to the bottom of the
machine.
The above is all that occurrs to me
at present to be necessary. Could I have
conversed with my Father on the subject, it
would have been more worthy of your
attention.
Sir
Your most Obedient humble servant
1790
[Page 8]
For the Revd. Mr. Surtees
Take an ounce of ground Tartar Crystals, 3 drachms of the Edinburgh Pharmacopœia's Composite Jalap Powder, a ½ ounce of Lenitive Electuary, and enough Clove Syrup as to make a thin Electuary or Linctus. Label: Aperient Electuary, One or more Tea spoonfuls to be taken in the morning when the body is slow.
1790
Diplomatic Text
Revd. Mr. Surtees
My Father Dr Cullen was honou¬
red with yours of the 9th. Decr. but at that
time he was extremely indisposed, and his
ailment has gained so much ground upon him
as to render him at present incapable of
attending to business of any kind. I think
it my duty to acquaint you of this, which
I delayed doing, from the hopes of my
Fathers getting better. While I inform
you of this, I think it also my duty to
offer you my opinion and advice respec¬
ting your complaints.
The particular symptoms which
you have narrated seem to be entirely
constitutional, and as they have so con¬
stantly attended you through life I am
afraid it will be extremely difficult
[Page 2]
and perhaps impossible to remedy them to
any considerable degree, but I hope that
they may be considerably alleviated. I am
more inclined to be of this opinion from y[our]
time of life, as you are now approachi[ing]
to that period when the Nervous System
acquires its greatest firmness and vigou[r]
I am not of opinion that your complain[ts]
can be much benefited by medicine, whic[h]
at the best could afford you but a tempora[ry]
relief.
What I think should deserve your
particular attention is your diet and Exer[cise]
with the use of the Cold Bath.
With respect to diet, it should be a[t]
all times of light meats, avoiding with
much care rich or fat meats, high seaso[ned]
sauces, and also guarding against ever ma[king]
too full a meal.
[Page 3]
You may after dinner take a few glasses
of Wine, but it ought to be a few only. For
ordinary drink, it may be either toast water
or at times a little Porter.
Your Supper ought to be of milk
meats, and at no time should be of Animal
food. Indian tea and Coffee are both very
improper for you, and in place of either, you
may take Cocoa tea, or a tea made of some of
our home growth herbs, such as Balm or
Sage &c. and with one or other of these, you
may take dry toast with a very little Butter
You should at no time take any sweets
such as Jelly, Marmalade &c. with your
bread.
You do not mention in what mode
you take exercise, but this should require
your particular attention. Walking
gently may be of service, but you cannot
[Page 4]
take so much of it as to be very beneficial
without the danger of inducing fatigue. The
exercise I would particularly recommend
is the Riding on horseback, which you
should practise daily. If you should not
be accustomed to much Riding, a little
time will make it familiar and easy
to you, and it should never be omitted, but
in very bad weather.Your Ride should
always be finished at least an hour before
dinner.
You should be always rather warmly
cloathed, and should wear flannel next
your Skin. You must avoid being exposed
to having your feet wet, and therefore
should wear footsocks and thick Shoes
You should go to bed early and never
be long in bed in the morning.
[Page 5]
You have not either said any thing
relating to the state of your bowels, and I
therefore suppose they are regular. If however
you should at any time be inclined to
costiveness, you should have recourse to
a gentle laxative, and the one prescribed on
the paper apart, I hope will answer the
purpose.
You ought to avoid with much caution
Sitting in warm Chambers, or Chambers
crouded with company. At the same time
permit me to say that I think you
ought by no means to shun company or
indulge yourself with being alone.
I should hope that you might derive
good effects from Cold Bathing, but as this
is not the season in which you might
make a trial of Sea bathing, I would
[Page 6]
recommend the use of the Chamber or Show[er]
Bath. At first the Cold water must be tem¬
pered with a proportion of boiling water.
Take three gallons English of Spring water
immediately taken from the spring. To
this put one gallon of boiling water. This
Bath you are to use at first only every
other day, but at every third time of using
it, you are to diminish the boiling water
by one pint, adding cold water in the
same proportion, till at last you can
bear the cold water without any additio[n]
of warm, and if you think that you
have either benefit by it, or have not
been the worse for it, you should in a
week or two use it every day. I have
only one thing more relating to it, to
observe. At first to prevent the Shock
being too great, you should stand upon
[Page 7]
a short Stool, so as that the Crown of your
head may be very near to the bottom of the
machine.
The above is all that occurrs to me
at present to be necessary. Could I have
conversed with my Father on the subject, it
would have been more worthy of your
attention.
Sir
Your most Obedient humble servant
1790
[Page 8]
For the Revd. Mr. Surtees
℞ Pulv. crystal. tartar. ℥j
–– jalap. comp. Pharm. Edin. ʒiij
Electar. lenitiv. ℥ſs
Syr. caryophyl. q. s. ut f. Electuarium
tenue sive Lochoch.
Sig. Aperient Electuary, One or more Tea
spoonfuls to be taken in the morning when
the body is slow.
1790
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