petite,
without any relapse.

CASE II.

About the middle of the year 1784 a lady aged 48, returned from
London, to her native air in Shropshire, under symptoms of complicated
disease. It was your opinion that the plethoric state, consequent to
that period, when menstruation first begins to cease, had under
various appearances, laid the foundation of that deplorable state
which now presented itself. The skin was universally of a pale, leaden
colour; her person much emaciated, and her strength so reduced, as to
disable her from walking without support. The appetite fluctuating,
the digestion impaired so much, that solids passed the intestines with
little appearance of solution: She had generally eight or ten alvine
evacuations every day, and without this number, febrile symptoms,
attended with severe vertiginous affection, and vomiting regularly
ensued. The stools were of a pale ash colour. The urine generally
pale, and at first in due quantity. The region of the stomach had a
tense feel, without soreness: the feet and ancles oedematous, her
sleep was uncertain: the pulse varying between 94 and 100, and feeble,
except upon the approach of the menstrual periods, which were now only
marked by its increased strength, and exacerbation of other febrile
symptoms. Emetics, saline medicines, and gentle aperients were
necessary to alleviate these. Six grains of ipecac, operated with
sufficient power, and half a grain of calomel would have purged with
great violence.

From the time of her arrival till the middle of _August_, mercury had
been continued in various forms, and in doses such as the irritable
state of her stomach and bowels would admit of. Spirit. nitri dulc.;
sal. tartar, squill, and cantharides were alternately employed as
diuretics, but without success, to retard the progress of an universal
anasarca which was then advanced to such degree and accompanied by so
great debility, and other dreadful concomitants, as to threaten a
speedy and fatal catastrophe.

On the 16th of _August_ you first saw her, and directed thus.

R. Mercur. cinerei gr. ii.
Fol. Digital, purpur. pulv. [Symbol: scruple]i. f. mass. in
pill. no. xvi. dividend.--sumat unam hora meridiana,
iterumque hora quinta pomeridiana quotidie.
Capiat lixivii saponac. gutt. L. in haust. juscul. sine sale
parati omni nocte.

On the 20th the flow of urine began to increase, and she continued the
medic