DEAR SIR,

During my residence in the Birmingham General Hospital, I had frequent
opportunities of seeing the great effects of the Digitalis in dropsy.
As the exhibition of it was in the following instances immediately
under your own direction, I have drawn them up for your inspection,
previous to your publishing upon that excellent diuretic. Of its
efficacy in dropsy I have considerable evidence in my possession, but
consider myself not at liberty to send you any other cases except
those you had yourself the conduct of. The Digitalis is a very
valuable acquisition to medicine; and, I trust, it will cease to be
dreaded when it is well understood.

I am, Sir, your obedient,
And very humble servant,
W. BAYLEY.

CASE CLXI.

Mary Hollis, aged 62, was admitted an out patient of the Birmingham
General Hospital _February_ 12th, 1784, labouring under all the
effects of hydrothorax; her dread of suffocation during sleep was so
great, that she always reposed in an elbow chair. She was directed to
take two grains of Digitalis in powder every night and morning, and
for a few days found great relief; but, on the eighth day, as she had
complained of sickness, and had been considerably purged, she was
ordered to desist taking any more of her powders. On the 14th day she
was ordered an ounce of the following infusion twice in a day: R. Fol.
Digital. purp. sicc. [Symbol: dram]iss. aq. bullient. [Symbol: pound]ss.
digere per semi-horam, colaturae adde tinct. aromatic [Symbol: ounce]i.
This infusion did not purge, but sometimes excited nausea, though not
sufficient to prevent her from continuing its use. She grew gradually
better, and on the 6th of _May_ was discharged perfectly cured. The
diuretic effects of the Digitalis were in this instance immediate.

CASE CLXII.

Edward James, AEt. 21. Admitted _March_ 20th, 1784. Complained of great
difficulty of breathing, pain in his head, and tightness about the
stomach, with a trifling swelling of his legs. Ordered pil. scillit.
[Symbol: scruple]i. ter de die. On the third day his legs much more
swelled, his breathing more difficult, and in every respect worse; his
pulse very small and quick, complained when he turned in bed, of
something like water rolling from one side of the thorax to the ot