Related Results

Ref No

DEP/ABJ/5/5

'Observations on Diseases of the Spinal Marrow' and 'Observations on Certain Dropsical Affections...

Printed volume with annotations on the facing pages. 'Diseases of the Spinal Marrow' was printed in 1817 (see p27) but the annotations include cases from 1818 (see facing p120). 'Observations on Certain Dropsical Affections' is undated but the annotations include cases from 1819 (see facing p13).

c1819

DEP/ANO/22

'Judicium urinarum', author unknown

The text is relieved with red capitals and diagrams of alembics with different fluids, presumably urine. The 'Judicium' ends on page 134 and is followed by a list of planets and the days of the week; a table showing the dates of a month in terms of zodiac signs which also correlate to the twelve alchemical processes; and a list of names, possibly alchemical elements. On pages 141-144 is a work that starts 'This booke of Ipocras techith...' Page 145 is half missing but appears to contain superstitions relating to days of the week. Pages 146-161 contain prescriptions for various conditions, for example the hot and cold dropsy (p148). Pages 161-172 contain medical texts on blood letting (p161-162) and the affects of astronomy and astrology (p164-165) with a list of planets with their symbols (p169-170). In different hands and added later at the bottom of p171 is a process using mercury; pages 172-173 have a text titled 'Ignis' in verse form; and pages 173-174 have further verses titled 'A descrypcyon of the fort off iniquitye'. Possibly a translation of the work by Walter Aglion (fl 1220-1260) which exists in an online version of an old University of Cambridge manuscripts catalogue. The date is subject to verification as it was originally given as 14th century.

Late 15th century

DEP/AWP/1/6/3

Lecture notes taken by William Pulteney Alison from lectures on materia medica by Professor James...

A list at the rear gives the contents as: proximate principles; products obtained from the vegetable kingdom; opium; narcotics; digitalis; tobacco; ipecacuanha; rhubarb; squills; bark; animal substances; general therapeutics; astringents; emollients blood letting; corrosives; and septics and antiseptics. A loose insert at the front of the volume is titled 'Of Weighing or Ponderation'.

1808 - 1809

DEP/AWP/5/1/117

'Therapeutics - Remedies acting on the Circulation - Blood Letting' by William Pulteney Alison

Draft copy.

1820s - 1850s

DEP/BGW

Collection of George William Balfour

 

1845-1846

DEP/CUL/2/1/3

William Cullen's lectures on materia medica, volume 2

The sections are: 'Medical Virtues of Sulphur and Alcohol', 'External Medicines', 'Specific Purgatives', 'Of Drinks', 'Of the More Universal Remedies', 'Evacuations', 'Nutrients', 'Therapeutics Stimulants', 'Sedatives', 'Sedantia', 'The Means of Preventing or Curing Diseases', 'Methodus Medendi [in Latin and English]', 'Therapeutice [various forms - astringentia, emollientia, sedantia, blood letting etc]', 'Astringents', 'Corrosives', 'Hygiene', 'P L [the only dated section], 'Of Particular Aliments', 'Antacida', 'Blood letting', 'Emetics', 'Purgatives', 'Emmenagoga [Emmenagogue]', 'Of Poisons' and 'Calculus'. At the rear of the volume are lists of drugs. Two inserted notes in the volume which may not be contemporary read 'Do not these correspond with the notes in the printed copy of the syllabus?' and 'Notes of Therapeutical Lectures for an entire session'. It should be noted that not all the sections have obvious headings and some may have been missed. Because the volume consists of separate note the date range will almost certainly be wider than the one dated item. Described in the original manuscript catalogue as 'in his own hand'.

20 Jan 1764

DEP/DUA/3/2

'History of the Continued Fevers That Occurred in the Clinical Wards of the Royal Infirmary Under...

Report discussing the 17 cases of continued fever treated in the clinical wards of the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh, Scotland, between 1 May 1810 and 1 August 1810. Titley outlines the types of fever treated, the course the disease took in several of the patients, and the various treatments administered. These include: emetics, cathartics, cold and warm affusions, tepid washing, pediluvium, bloodletting, blisters, wine and other stimulants (such as aether sulph, ammonia aromas and cinchona), opium tinctures and enemas, submuriate of mercury, acid drinks, lavender and peppermint water, effervescing draughts, diaphoretics, and refrigerants. This report was discussed by Dr Andrew Duncan in his 'Report Presented to the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh Respecting the Contagious Epidemic Diseases Which Have Prevailed, in That City and Its Neighbourhood, During the Year 1810'.

1 May 1810-1 August 1810

DEP/HAJ/1/79

Letter to James Hamilton from D J W [Dickison?], Mull, Scotland

He is in favour of the use of purgatives and blood-letting and quotes from recent works that support him. He goes on to describe the incidence of tetanus in Jamaica [West Indies].

8 Jun 1818

DEP/HAJ/1/84

Letter to James Hamilton from William Cameron, Calcutta, [Kolkata] [India]

He had written previously telling Hamilton about medical practice in India. He has had a much wider general practice since returning to Calcutta due to the support of Dr Macwhirter to whom he was introduced by his cousin, Frank Cameron as they had studied together in Edinburgh. Macwhirter follows Hamilton's purgative treatment and favours blood letting. As Macwhirter intends to retire to Edinburgh. Cameron hopes Hamilton will meet him.

6 Nov 1821

DEP/MCL/1

Student notes taken by Robert McLean from lectures of William Cullen on the practice of physic

Title as given on volume is: 'Robert McLean - Student of Physick Edinburgh October 31st - Notes from Dr Cullen professor of the practice of [physick]'. The first page of the volume is titled 'Notes on Dr Cullen's Practice of Medicine Jan 16th 1775'. The following headings are given: 'Prognostics of Fevers' (p1); 'Of the state of debility' (p7); 'Of the vital functions' (p8); 'Of the critical days in fevers' (p13); 'Of the cure of fevers in general' (p18); 'Of the proximate cause of fevers'; 'Of blood letting' (p26); 'Of purging' (p31); 'Of emetics' (p40); 'Of antispasmodics' (p44); 'Warm bathing' (p50); 'Tonics' (p54); 'Of direct stimulants' (p57); 'Of Intermittant fevers' (p64); 'Phlegmasia' (p71); 'Of grangrene' (p75); 'Of the remote cause of inflamation' (p77); 'Of the cure of inflammation in general' (p79); 'Ophthalmia' (p83); 'Of the visceral inflammation' (p87); 'Cynanche or angina' (p88); 'Peripneumonia and pleurisys' (p93); 'Pericarditis' (p109); 'Peritonitis' (p109); 'Gastritis' (p110); 'Hypatitis' (p112); 'Nephritis' (p113); 'Cystitis' (p115); 'Of Exanthemata' (p115); 'Erisipelas' (p117); 'Pestis and Typhus' (p120); 'Variola' (p130); 'Of inoculation' (p133); 'Varicella' (p1410; 'Rubeola' (p141); 'Scarlatina' (p144); 'Milliaria Edinr 10th Apr' (p149); 'Phlegmasia' (p152); 'Rheumatism Apr 12th' (p152); and 'Athritis' (p164).

Jan 1775-Apr 1775

DEP/RMS/1

[Papers read to the Royal Medical Society]

The volume contains the following papers: 'Observations on the Fever which prevailed among the Soldiers of the South Fencible Regiment while quartered in Edinburgh Castle' by Dr Bell (pp1-36); 'What objections may be made to the doctrine of morbific matter; of the rationality of the Soul making efforts to remove morbid states; of the properties of the blood and fluids, as thick or thin, acid or bland, constituting the sound or morbid states and to that of spasm either with or without debility affords proper fundamental principles for medical reasoning and practice' by Mr Campbell, titled 'Brunonianism' in the index; 'On Ulcers' by Mr Lister; 'Has Sea Bathing any other effects on the constitution than the common Bath of an equal temperature? In what diseases ought it to be used in what avoided' by Dr John Young (pp1-30); 'Of some accidents from blood letting' by Mr J [John] Young, 14th April 1779 (pp1-32); 'What are the uses of perspiration and how far may the diminution of it be supplied by other evacuations?' by L Nihell, question proposed by H Slaughter; 'What are the diseases induced by a sedentary and literary life?' by Mr Fenwick (pp1-47); 'On chronic rheumatism' by Jacob Pattisson; 'De Fermentatione' by G Lister (in Latin); 'Is Mercury to be reckoned specific in the small pox?' by Dr Willan, read to the Medical Society of Edinburgh January 1780 (pp1-27); 'Excerpts from Experiments on the nerves of living animals' by Mr Cruickshank; 'Barometer' from De Luc (Jean-André Deluc, 1727-1817, Swiss geologist and meterologist. Not all the papers have authors but the index at the front gives their names.


The reference to the Medical Society of Edinburgh at the head of Dr Willan's essay has led to confusion with the earlier Edinburgh Medical Society (1731-1737). However, the Royal Medical Society was originally constituted as the Medical Society which presumably remained its name until the granting of the Royal Charter in 1778 and might explain Willan's term. The volume dating from shortly after the charter may explain why there is no reference to the name 'Royal Medical Society' in the volume. A note in the volume from the eminent American medical historian Guenter Risse reads 'Edinburgh Medical Society = Royal Medical Society. This volume unique. 1.9.72'.

1779-1780

DEP/SMS/2/9

Subject file of Sydney Smith: Blood

Includes 'The Presence Post Mortem of Nitric-Oxide-Haemoglobin' by H A L Banham, J S Haldane and Thomas Savage, British Medical Journal, 1925; 'Discussion of Filter Passing Viruses and Cancer', British Medical Journal, 1925; 'The Use of Blood Tests in Cases of Disputed Paternity in Theory and Practice' by F Schiff Berlin, c1926; 'Of Blood Grouping and Its Clinical Applications' by S C Dyke, British Medical Journal, 1922; 'On the Medico-Legal Importance of the Blood Groups' by S C Dyke, The Lancet, 1922; 'The Kastle-Meyer Test for the Detection of Blood' by John Glaister, British Medical Journal, 1926; 'Venesection and Blood Transfusion in Carbon Monoxide Poisoning' by Sir C Gordon-Watson, British Medical Journal 1925; 'Improved Methods for Recognition of Blood and Seminal Stains' by E H Hankin, British Medical Journal, 1906; 'The Haemochromogen Crystal Test for Blood' by Douglas J A Kerr and Victor Mason, British Medical Journal, 1926; and 'Medicolegal Application of Human Blood Grouping' by Reuben Ottenberg, Journal of the American Medical Association, 1921.

1906-1926

DEP/TAH/2/2/10

Slides of Haldane Tait labelled 'Medical'

Glass slides with some film. Box is divided into two sections. First section: dental instruments; Jerome Cardan [Geralmo Cardano]; mandrake; medical school Dunedin; rhinoceros; map of Chilean lake district; Mayo Clinic, Rochester; 18th century French physicians; letter from [Joseph] Lister to Dr Wilson, 1878; medical school Galveston; Doctor and Mrs Conan Doyle; obstetric instruments of Peter Chamberlin 1560-1631; and film negatives of Mount Meru, Tanzania and Tanzanians. Second section: title page of 'The Discovery of Witchcraft' by Reginald Scot; illustration of blood letting from the tongue; anatomical illustrations from early Persian manuscripts; old Thomas Parr (d.1635); map of Africa; valves of veins in arm according to Fabricius; tower of Monimall, Fife; Paracelsus; surgical instruments from Pompeii, Italy.

c1950

DEP/TAJ/1

[Jane Taylor Pharmacopoeia]

A volume of medicinal preparations. The first eighty-six pages are in the same handwriting and format with some amendments and attributions, such as the green ointment of Lord of Norwich (p78). From page eighty-six the handwriting becomes less standardised and the preparations include wine and food recipes. On pp135-142 is an index. From the rear are two pages of food recipes, the first page initialled IT and ET who may be Taylor family members. The vellum cover is loose but may never have been attached.


The recipes are:

A salue all manner of wounds broken Boanes + all soares'. Page 1

For the bloudy menster'. Page 1

For Iron or thorne pricking. Page 1

For a pyn and web in the eyes'. Page 1

For swellinge of knees'. Page 1

For him that hath dronck venym'. Page 1

For a sauceleame' face'. Page 2

For swellinges'. Page 2

For all mannor of evills'. Page 2

For hardness of the Woombe [womb]. Page 2

For strong Jaundise'. Page 2

For the Dropsey'. Page 2

For to sley woormes in the eyes'. Page 2

For swelling in a mans throate'. Page 2

Otherwise evill in the throate'. Page 2

To unclose a wounde'. Page 3

To cast out bloud within a man by broosinges or otherwise'. Page 3

For stincking teeth coming of the stomacke'. Page 3

For stinking tethe'. Page 3

For akeing of kees and other ioyntes'. Page 3

A speciall drincke for all feauers'. Page 3

For the Axes'. Page 4

For all aches of Woundes or strokes'. Page 4

For swelling of a Wounde'. Page 4

For the stopping of the stomacke'. Page 4

To take awaye a wenn'. Page 5

For all manner of Woundes festers akeing swellings & other soares'. Page 5

For bolings or brusinges broken bones or other mannor'. Page 5

A speciall oyntment against dead flesh in Wowndes and to cherish the good'. Page 5

An intreat to cast out bones or Impostunes in Woundes'. Page 5

To heale in :V: dayes all scabbs'. Page 6

For the stone'. Page 6

For the Poxe'. Page 6

To take away Pockholes'. Page 7

To make a: n: w: &r:'. Page 7

Yf to sharpe'. Page 8

For a scald hedd'. Page 8

A: Water: fo: th: fa: to: m: it s: of 25: y:'. Page 8

To help a redd face'. Page 8

An: other'. Page 9

To make heare fall of:'. Page 9

A: x: r: f: th: f:'. Page 9

An: other'. Page 10

Against the stone in the bladder'. Page 10

An other'. Page 11

To heale the Emerods or pills'. Page 11

An other'. Page 11

For one that cannot keepe his meate but vomiteth allwayes'. Page 12

Against all paynes in the head'. Page 12

An other'. Page 12

An other'. Page 12

For payne in the eares'. Page 12

To make teeth fall out'. Page 13

To make black teeth White'. Page 13

Against kernells'. Page 13

For a sweet ball:'. Page 13

For the lyuer and milte'. Page 14

Against ache in the gutts'. Page 14

Yf a Woman haue not hir termes to cause them com'. Page 14

For the riseing of the Ma'. Page 14

To make a sweet breath'. Page 14

For horseness'. Page 15

To make heare to growe and not to fall'. Page 15

To cause heare to fall off'. Page 15

For a sausleam face'. Page 15

For drythe in the handes'. Page 16

For the Morphew'. Page 16

For scabbes'. Page 16

For dry scabbs'. Page 16

An other'. Page 16

Against vomitts'. Page 17

Ignis Saluaticus or sacer ignis'. Page 17

To make teeth White'. Page 17

For a woman that is shrank and that shee weer wth: Childe'. Page 17

Whi: f: o: a: W:'. Page 18

A restorat for hir that hath lost hir Nature'. Page 18

For the dropsie in the Woomb in feet and for Constiuens in the stomack for Wormes in ye stomack and for bad sto:'. Page 18

For the Megrim in the hedd Postum in the head Dropsy in the head & for all akeing in the head'. Page 19

For swelling through bloud letting'. Page 19

For one that is deafe'. Page 19

For the Quincye'. Page 19-20

To break Apostumes'. Page 20

To draw out Apostumes'. Page 20

For Closed Woundes not Well healed'. Page 20

For Noli me tangere'. Page 20-21

For a soare yarde'. Page 21

For a fayre face'. Page 21

For ache in the Woomb'. Page 21

For Euill in the back'. Page 21-22

For swelling in the stomack'. Page 22

To draw out broken bones of woundes'. Page 22

For the Fundament goeing out'. Page 22

For him that spitts bloud'. Page 22-23

A purgation'. Page 23

To breake the Stone'. Page 23

Oyle of Exeter'. Page 23-24

For a stincking breath be it in the braynes mouth or stomack'. Page 24-25

To make a good stomack'. Page 25

To make Camph:'. Page 25

To make the beard or head ot grow that yt fall not of:'. Page 25-26

To make hayre black'. Page 26-27

An other'. Page 27

An Excellent Secret'. Page 27

To make hayre growe'. Page 27

For the same'. Page 27-28

c1685

DEP/WAA/3/6

Illustration collection of Alexander Watson: Ulceration and Sloughing of the integuments after...

Gives the details of the case on the reverse. Captioned.

6 May 1839

OBJ/PAI/4

Oil painting: Balfour, George William

Oil on canvas, 78.7 x 66 cm


Born in Sorn, Ayrshire, George William Balfour intended to emigrate to Australia and in preparation for country life, at the age of 20, qualified as a veterinary surgeon. His interest in medicine stimulated, he gave up thoughts of Australia and became a Licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Doctor of Medicine, St Andrews.


After study in Vienna he commenced practice in Cramond, near Edinburgh. After being Physician to the New Town Dispensary and the Hospital for Sick Children, Balfour received the post of Physician to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. He opposed the practice of routine blood-letting in pneumonia. He was the first to observe the prevalence of phosphorous poisoning amongst workers in match factories. He made his name as a cardiologist and was appointed Physician in Ordinary to Queen Victoria and King Edward VII. A sister of Dr Balfour was the mother of Robert Louis Stevenson.


Artist: John Dick Bowie

[early 20th century]

OBJ/PAI/7

Oil painting: Bennett, John Hughes

Oil on canvas, 78.7 x 63.5 cm


Born in London and educated in Exeter, John Hughes Bennett (1812–1875) commenced the study of medicine in Edinburgh in 1833. He obtained an MD with a gold medal in 1837.


He was a leading member of the Royal Medical Society. He regarded the Society as a most valuable adjunct to medical education and culture in Scotland. After graduation he proceeded to Paris where he studied and founded the Parisian Medical Society. He became interested in teaching and research and within five years of graduation he had been elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, Physician to the Royal Public Dispensary, and Pathologist to the Royal Infirmary. In 1848 he was appointed to the Chair of Physiology at Edinburgh. He strongly opposed the practice of blood-letting in inflammatory conditions and in 1865 published an article on 'The Restorative Treatment of Pneumonia', which led to the abandonment of bleeding as routine practice.


Artist: Henry Wright Kerr

[early 20th century]

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