I HAVE CONSIDERED CAREFULLY THE AMOUNT OF BRANDY H.R.H. TAKES GULL (Sir William Withey, 1816-1890, Physician to Queen Victoria, suspected to be 'Jack the Ripper'), Francis Manley SIMS (died 1902, Physician) and Sir Oscar CLAYTON (1816-1892, Surgeon to Prince of Wales)

Small collection of material relating to the treatment of the Duchess of Cambridge comprising a Fine Autograph Letter Signed signed in full (William W. Gull) to "My dear Madam" regretting that he "could not at once reply to your note. I have considered carefully the amount of brandy H.R.H. takes and do not think it could be much reduced below the four table spoonfuls. I of course assume that these are measured in a measure glass. I would however suggest a diminution at noon to one teaspoonful. At two o'clock 2 teaspoonfuls may be given instead of four which is the tablespoonful and at 8 o'clock the table spoonful might be reduced to the same extent. This would be in all about 1/4th the induction leaving that given at night & in the night without change. I will also say that the amounts taken off may any day be re-added if any circumstance seems to call for it. I have communicated with Mr Hewitt ...", 4 sides 8vo., headed 74 Brook Street, Grosvenor Square 14th April 1877 together with a detailed account of the patient's treatment in another hand "H.R.H. has a pint & a half of Asses milk in the course of 24 hours, ¼ of a pint with coffee, at or about 7-7.30-8 or 8.30 according to her waking. ¼ of a pint, with tea, and with that, a boiled or poached egg, a little bread & butter - at or about 10-10.30 - 11-11.30, according to the time of the previous ¼ pint, or to her waking. ... When the brandy is put into the Asses milk it must not be put in pure or it curdles the milk, but must be mixed first with a teasp. water and then put in. If H.R.H. has been up or woke early, & had the 11.o'cl portion early or is tired & exhausted with the washing etc., or in the 24 hours we have come short of the 1½ pint - it is well to get her to drink another cup of the milk somewhere between the 11.o'cl & the Caviare luncheon at 1. or 2. In this to exercise your own judgement & persuade H.R.H. to drink it when you think it expedient Besides the Asses milk, H.R.H. usually has during the day, a lunch of Caviare ...a meal of fish or game, or soup - one dish, had at 8.o'cl 6 oysters & a poached egg ... Generally (but according to Dr Duncan's daily directions) every other morning ... an especial pill. 2 tablesp Dinneford's magnesia in 1 tablsp lemonade ... the Chlorie Ether to be given 1 tablesp in 1 tablesp of cold water, whenever there is headache, giddiness, excessive pain, depression, may be given at intervals of 2 hours ...", 2 sides 8vo., also two manuscript prescriptions, the first in the hand of and signed by Sims,the second in the hand of and signed by Clayton, each 1 side 8vo., St James Palace headed paper, 11th January 1877 and 29th January

A detailed account of the treatment of Princess Augusta of Hesse-Kassel (1797-1889, Duchess of Cambridge, wife of Prince Adolphus of Cambridge, the 10th child of George III).
From 1875 Sims was one of the busiest practitioners in London and for over twenty years he was physican the H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge.
In 1872 the Prince of Wales fell sick at Scarborough with typhoid fever, and Clayton correctly diagnosed the illness. Clayton was always credited with the Prince's recovery. He was heavily relied on by the Royal Family.

Item Date:  1878

Stock No:  39080      £1250

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