The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:643] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Dr William Hamilton (in Glasgow) / Regarding: Mr Thomas Alston (Patient), Mrs Janet Arnot (Alston) (of Silverwood) (Patient) / 1 October 1782 / (Outgoing)
Reply, 'Mr Alston', including Cullen giving his opinions on a West Indies voyage. 'To do this very positively would require a conjurer and I hope the family do not believe that I have any dealings with the Devil but I will say what I think.' He also says, of Mr Alston's sister: 'I wish with all my heart I could relieve Mrs Arnot but I don't find any thing to offer.' A postscript asks if Hamilton can be of service to a midwife in Glasgow, Mrs Mcwright, 'who formerly had a particular connexion with my family'.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 2 images for this document.
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Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 643 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/15/128 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 1 October 1782 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Machine copy |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply, 'Mr Alston', including Cullen giving his opinions on a West Indies voyage. 'To do this very positively would require a conjurer and I hope the family do not believe that I have any dealings with the Devil but I will say what I think.' He also says, of Mr Alston's sister: 'I wish with all my heart I could relieve Mrs Arnot but I don't find any thing to offer.' A postscript asks if Hamilton can be of service to a midwife in Glasgow, Mrs Mcwright, 'who formerly had a particular connexion with my family'. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:671] |
Case of Mr Thomas Alston who spits blood and consequently has a poor prognosis and whose case eventually proves fatal. |
13 |
| [Case ID:880] |
Case of Mrs Janet Arnot who has a constricted throat. |
7 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:175] | Addressee | Dr William Hamilton (in Glasgow) |
| [PERS ID:554] | Patient | Mr Thomas Alston |
| [PERS ID:1265] | Patient | Mrs Janet Arnot (of Silverwood) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:175] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Hamilton (in Glasgow) |
| [PERS ID:1265] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Mrs Janet Arnot (of Silverwood) |
| [PERS ID:3080] | Other | Mrs McWright |
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 | Glasgow | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | inferred | |
| Therapeutic Recommendation | West Indies | certain | ||||
| Mentioned / Other | Glasgow | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
Mr Alston
On the subject ↑of↑ Mr Alstons disease
I need not say any thing for if he is to remain in this
country our plan is settled and so far as executed has succeeded
very well and therefore my only business now is to give my
opinion of the West Indies voyage. To do this very positively
would require a conjurer and I hope the family do not be¬
lieve that I have any dealings with the Devil but I will
say what I think. I have known a change of climate
circumstances and manner of life prove a case of Mr
Alstons disease and so far the voyage is likely to be of
service to him but I know a warm climate to be very
unfavorable to the disease and therefore think Mr Alston
would run a great risk by being in the West Indies, and
think it must be something very strong that I would tempt
him to run that hazard. The family therefore must take
the positive Decision upon themselves. If he does go I
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shall endeavour to direct his conduct as well as I can.
I wish with all my heart I could relieve Mrs Arnot
but I don't find any thing to offer. Make my best
compliments to all the family and believe me to be very
sincerely
Your affectionate & most obedient servant
1782
There is a Midwife at Glasgow Mrs Mcwright
who formerly had a particular connexion with my family
If you can be of any service to her it will be very obliging
to us. ––––
Diplomatic Text
Mr Alston
On the subject ↑of↑ Mr Alstons disease
I need not say any thing for if he is to remain in this
country our plan is settled and so far as executed has succeeded
very well and therefore my only business now is to give my
opinion of the West Indies voyage. To do this very positively
would require a conjurer and I hope the family do not be¬
lieve that I have any dealings with the Devil but I will
say what I think. I have known a change of climate
circumstances and manner of life prove a case of Mr
Alstons disease and so far the voyage is likely to be of
service to him but I know a warm climate to be very
unfavorable to the disease and therefore think Mr Alston
would run a great risk by being in the West Indies, and
think it must be something very strong that I would tempt
him to run that hazard. The family therefore must take
the positive Decision upon themselves. If he does go I
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shall endeavour to direct his conduct as well as I can.
I wish with all my heart I could relieve Mrs Arnot
but I don't find any thing to offer. Make my best
compliments to all the family and believe me to be very
sincerely
Your affectionate & most obedient servant
1782
There is a Midwife at Glasgow Mrs Mcwright
who formerly had a particular connexion with my family
If you can be of any service to her it will be very obliging
to us. ––––
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