anged, and yet there was an
irregularity and intermission of the pulse, which however might be
attributed to the dropsy of the pericardium. In the seventh case,
where the pulse was not irregular, the valves of the aorta were
"considerably thickened in various spots;" in the fifth, the pulse was
irregular, and the valves were not materially altered, but there was
water in the pericardium. In all the other cases, the pulse was
irregular, and the valves were much disordered: On a review of these
cases, therefore, we find some reason to believe, that the
irregularity of the pulse depends much on disease of the valves,
especially those of the aorta.

The cavity of the abdomen being opened, no water was discovered in it,
nor any other uncommon appearance, except about the liver, the coat of
which had been rendered opaque by coagulated lymph, and was studded
over with soft, dark coloured tubercles. The substance of the liver
was tender, and full of bile and venous blood.

DISSECTION OF CASE TENTH.
TWENTY-FOUR HOURS AFTER DEATH.

The symptoms of disease in this patient did not alter much, except in
degree, from the middle of April to the 10th of May. He became weaker,
had more straitness and pain about the heart on moving, an increase of
swelling in the legs and abdomen, return of the cough, and a pain from
the left shoulder to the middle of the arm. After his relapse in
April, he had been directed to employ blisters, the submuriate of
quicksilver, and the tincture of the digitalis purpurea. The dose of
the tincture he gradually increased, till he took two hundred drops,
two or three times in a day. Notwithstanding a profuse flow of urine,
the legs became so hard and painful, that I made punctures to
discharge the water from them. He would have had the water in the
abdomen drawn off, but believing it would not afford him great relief,
I dissuaded him from it. On the 10th of May, after having passed an
unusually comfortable night, he rose and left his chamber for five or
six hours, then retiring to it again, said he would be tapped that
day, and, after lying down, was quitted by his attendant, who went in
an hour after and found him dead. This was rather unexpected, for he
had the appearance of sufficient vigour to struggle with disease three
or four weeks longer.

A number of medical gentlemen being assembled, as has been usual on
these occasions, we first remarked, that the fac