Letter 0011

Posted on August 2, 2016 by -

Ralph Calep to William Cowper – August 23, 1707


Item info

Date: August 23, 1707
Author: Ralph Calep
Recipient: William Cowper

Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4075
Folio: ff. 35-36


Original Page


Transcription

This case was published in the Philosophical Transactions, vol. 26 (1708-9): “A Letter from Mr. Ra. Calep, to Mr. William Cowper, F. R. S. concerning a Woman 62 Years of Age (Who is Still Living) That Lost Her Leg and Greatest Part of Her Thigh by a Gangrene”. Cowper was a surgeon and an anatomist, elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1699. He became embroiled in a plagiarism scandal in 1698 when he was accused of copying Govard Bidloos anatomical work (Monique Kornell, Cowper , William (1666/71710), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/6510, accessed 4 July 2013]).



Patient Details

  • Patient info
    Name: Mrs. Steven
    Gender:
    Age:62, "Case of ye old Woman which I told you of"
  • Description

    Wife of Thomas Steven of Maidenhead seized with fever in late November 1697.

  • Diagnosis

    Leg tumour

  • Treatment
    Previous Treatment:

    Physician at the time used various remedies (unspecified), which resulted in a tumour and numbness in her left foot in two weeks. This crept up her leg and thigh. Ordered a fomentation (centaur: absinth: hyperic: &c.). Applied also a plaster of terebinth and galbanum. Method was used daily for a month before Calep saw her. Knee was swollen and had black spots, which pitted when pressed. Had pains, especially at night. Fever increased, with some delirium.


    Ongoing Treatment:

    "She begg'd heartily of me for help, but Alass! what cou'd I propose to releive her? Nothing but ye taking of her Thigh; wch she wou'd not consent to. I was not sorry for her not admiting of ye operation, because I cou'd not expect any success in ye performing it, by reason of her Age, weakness &c." Calep advised her friends to apply fomentations.


    Response:

    Had left patient for dead and was surprised to find her still alive a month later. Black fetid matter discharging from leg. Enlarged orifice on thigh to aid it. Again, left her for dead and was surprised five weeks later to find her alive: tumour seperated of its own accord. At this point, he decided to remove her leg.

  • More information
  • Medical problem reference
    Tumour, Amputation, Age, Fevers