George Cheyne to Hans Sloane – May 9, 1720
Item info
Date: May 9, 1720 Author: George Cheyne Recipient: Hans SloaneLibrary: British Library, London Manuscript: Sloane MS 4045 Folio: f. 329
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Language
English
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Library
British Library, London
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Categories
Medical
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Subjects
Referrals
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Date (as written)
May 9, 1720
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Standardised date
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Origin (as written)
Bath
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Others mentioned
Mr Walpoal Mrs Fellee
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Patients mentioned
Walpoal
Original Page
Transcription
Cheyne hopes he can help the patients Sloane referred to him. He is to wait on Mrs Walpoal. Mr Walpoal will give Sloane a fuller account of Mrs Walpoal’s illness. George Cheyne was a physician and published many books on philosophical and health-related topics. He promoted taking the waters at Bath and his popular treatise ‘An Essay of Health and Long Life’ (1724) served as a guide to good living. He suffered from extreme obesity, at one point weighing roughly 448 pounds (Anita Guerrini, Cheyne, George (1671/21743), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/5258, accessed 5 July 2013]).
Patient Details
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Patient info
Name: Mrs. Walpoal
Gender:
Age: -
Description
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Diagnosis
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Treatment
Previous Treatment:
Cordials, which cause 'fitts and faintings'.
Ongoing Treatment:Cheyne thinks 'Bath waters, especially with a wild Rhubarb' would be advisable. As the cordials produce a negative effect, wine and 'prop[...] drops' should be administered to effect 'better digestion'. Cheyne suggests nothing too strong be given to her, for such a treatment could induce 'more frequent fitts'. He figures she ought to be given 'Rhubarb and Specifick Bitters'.
Response:The patient's colour is improving, 'her fitts are shorter[...] and she like the waters'.
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More information
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Medical problem reference
Kidney, Nephritic syndrome, Fainting, Fits