The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:5966] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Major James Inglis Hamilton ((later) General Hamilton of Murdieston) / Regarding: Miss Christian Hamilton (of Murdieston) (Patient) / 31 October 1770 / (Outgoing)
Reply 'To Major Hamilton at Murdieston' (James Inglis Hamilton, later General), about the nervous ailments of Miss Hamilton (his older sister Christian), whom Cullen describes as his "agreeable acquaintance".
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 3 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
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Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 5966 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/3/5 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 31 October 1770 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Scribal copy ( includes Casebook Entry) |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | Yes |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply 'To Major Hamilton at Murdieston' (James Inglis Hamilton, later General), about the nervous ailments of Miss Hamilton (his older sister Christian), whom Cullen describes as his "agreeable acquaintance". |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:69] |
Case of Miss Christian Hamilton whose 'fits of stupor' in 1770 and subsequent bowel problems in 1775 are all attributed to 'weak nerves'. Probably same patient as Case 663. |
2 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:1321] | Addressee | Major James Inglis Hamilton ((later) General Hamilton of Murdieston) |
| [PERS ID:872] | Patient | Miss Christian Hamilton (of Murdieston) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:1321] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Major James Inglis Hamilton ((later) General Hamilton of Murdieston) |
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 | Murdieston (Murdietoun) | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Mentioned / Other | Clydesdale | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Mentioned / Other | Murdieston (Murdietoun) | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
To Major Hamilton at Murdieston
I am very sorry to find my agreeable acquaintance Miss
Hamilton complaining. It is not exactly the same Complaint I was formerly
advised about; but it is upon the same foundation of weak nerves, and is only
in another shape a nervous complaint. I hope it shall have no
consequences farther than the present uneasiness, and even that I hope
we shall discuss very soon.
Upon perceiving the first approach of any stupor let her
take a few tea spoonful of the Cephalic drops in a little water; and if
that does not prevent the fit in a quarter of an hour she may
take another dose and at a like interval of a third. The same course
is to be taken if the fit comes on without warning; and if it shall
be found that the fits are not easily prevented or discussed by this
management the dose of the drops may be increased to two tea¬
spoonfuls at a time. But beyond this quantity and three doses
I would not choose to go. If my drops fail you may try to assist
them by a little Spirit of Hartshorn or Lavender drops & sometimes
you may try these without the others; for I think it is the mis¬
fortune of all nervous people to use these medicines too much, by
which they both lose the benefit of the medicine and sometimes
get harm by it.
It is extremely difficult to restore such a Constitution as
Miss Hamilton’s but the only solid relief they can obtain is by
being strengthened more or less. For this purpose I have sent
some bark b in powder, but a small quantity only till we know
what use she can make of it. Let her try to take a tea spoonful
twice a day before dinner and supper. It may be taken in
[Page 2]
water, wine and water, or brandy and water, or if she cannot take it
in that shape it may be made into a bolus with a little syrup and
swallowed on a wafer. I hold it to be by much the most useful in
substance as I now propose, but if she cannot take it in that
shape I shall advise it in a liquid form. Every dose of the bark
is to be washed down by a tea spoonful of the Chalybeate drops
in half a gill of water. Whatever comes of the bark I hope Miss
Hamilton will be able to take this medicine and should take it
at the times proposed for the bark; and if she does not take
bark at all let her take the Chalybeate three times a day.
By these medicines I hope she shall get the better of the
fits of stupor &c. but if they do not yield very soon I would have
her apply a small blister to the Crown of her head, and have
sent one for that purpose.
There is commonly a costiveness attending all nervous
complaints, and it very much increases them. If there is any thing
of that kind in this case it must be carefully obviated by an
Anderson’s pill, Sacred Tincture, or Elixir or other such medicine
that possibly Miss Hamilton may have been in use of.
I should wish to give Miss Hamilton some exercise & fresh
air, but I believe that her habits the state of the season & Clydesdale
roads will render it quite impracticable. In the mean time I think your
proposal of the flannel shift to be extremely proper.
For her diet I dare not advise without knowing
more of her ordinary manner and former experience, but I think
she must know herself what agrees and disagrees with her
pretty well. With regard to that or any other particular
I shall be very ready to answer any question you shall
please to put and I beg to hear how ↑you↑ go on; for I
[Page 3]
shall not be satisfied without doing all the service I can to
Miss Hamilton or any other of the family. I am with great regard
your most obedient servant
1770
Take half an ounce each of Soot Tincture, and Volatile Aromatic Spirit. Mix. Label: Cephalic Drops.
Take an ounce of powdered Peruvian Bark. Label: Powdered Bark.
Take two ounces of Tincture of Mars and an ounce of aromatic. Mix. Label: Chalybeate Drops.
Diplomatic Text
To Major Hamilton at Murdieston
I am very sorry to find my agreeable acquaintance Miss
Hamilton complaining. It is not exactly the same Complaint I was formerly
advised about; but it is upon the same foundation of weak nerves, and is only
in another shape a nervous complaint. I hope it shall have no
consequences farther than the present uneasiness, and even that I hope
we shall discuss very soon.
Upon perceiving the first approach of any stupor let her
take a few tea spoonful of the Cephalic drops in a little water; and if
that does not prevent the fit in a quarter of an hour she may
take another dose and at a like interval of a third. The same course
is to be taken if the fit comes on without warning; and if it shall
be found that the fits are not easily prevented or discussed by this
management the dose of the drops may be increased to two tea¬
spoonfuls at a time. But beyond this quantity and three doses
I would not choose to go. If my drops fail you may try to assist
them by a little Spirit of Hartshorn or Lavender drops & sometimes
you may try these without the others; for I think it is the mis¬
fortune of all nervous people to use these medicines too much, by
which they both lose the benefit of the medicine and sometimes
get harm by it.
It is extremely difficult to restore such a Constitution as
Miss Hamilton’s but the only solid relief they can obtain is by
being strengthened more or less. For this purpose I have sent
some bark b in powder, but a small quantity only till we know
what use she can make of it. Let her try to take a tea spoonful
twice a day before dinner and supper. It may be taken in
[Page 2]
water, wine and water, or brandy and water, or if she cannot take it
in that shape it may be made into a bolus with a little syrup and
swallowed on a wafer. I hold it to be by much the most useful in
substance as I now propose, but if she cannot take it in that
shape I shall advise it in a liquid form. Every dose of the bark
is to be washed down by a tea spoonful of the Chalybeate drops
in half a gill of water. Whatever comes of the bark I hope Miss
Hamilton will be able to take this medicine and should take it
at the times proposed for the bark; and if she does not take
bark at all let her take the Chalybeate three times a day.
By these medicines I hope she shall get the better of the
fits of stupor &c. but if they do not yield very soon I would have
her apply a small blister to the Crown of her head, and have
sent one for that purpose.
There is commonly a costiveness attending all nervous
complaints, and it very much increases them. If there is any thing
of that kind in this case it must be carefully obviated by an
Anderson’s pill, Sacred Tincture, or Elixir or other such medicine
that possibly Miss Hamilton may have been in use of.
I should wish to give Miss Hamilton some exercise & fresh
air, but I believe that her habits the state of the season & Clydesdale
roads will render it quite impracticable. In the mean time I think your
proposal of the flannel shift to be extremely proper.
For her diet I dare not advise without knowing
more of her ordinary manner and former experience, but I think
she must know herself what agrees and disagrees with her
pretty well. With regard to that or any other particular
I shall be very ready to answer any question you shall
please to put and I beg to hear how ↑you↑ go on; for I
[Page 3]
shall not be satisfied without doing all the service I can to
Miss Hamilton or any other of the family. I am with great regard
your most obedient servant
1770
℞ Tinct. Cust. comp. Fulig. Sp.t vol. aromat. @ ℥ſs ℳ S. Cephalic Drops
℞ Cort. Peruv. pulv. ℥i S. Powdered Bark.
℞ Tinct. Mart. ℥ii aromat. ℥i ℳ S. Chalybeate Drops
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