ore throat
which had raged so very generally amongst us in the preceding year.
Some of these had been cured by squills or other diuretics, and
relapsed; in others, the dropsy did not appear for several weeks after
the original disease had ceased: but I am not able to mention many
particulars, having omitted to make notes. This, however, is the less
to be regretted, as the symptoms in all were very much alike, and they
were all without an exception cured by the Foxglove.

This last circumstance encouraged me to use the medicine more
frequently than I had done heretofore, and the increase of practice
had taught me to improve the management of it.

In _February_ 1779, my friend, Dr. Stokes, communicated to the Medical
Society at Edinburgh the result of my experience of the Foxglove; and,
in a letter addressed to me in _November_ following, he says, "Dr.
Hope, in consequence of my mentioning its use to my friend, Dr.
Broughton, has tried the Foxglove in the Infirmary with success." Dr.
Stokes also tells me that Dr. Hamilton cured Dropsies with it in the
year 1781.

I am informed by my very worthy friend Dr. Duncan, that Dr. Hamilton,
who learnt its use from Dr. Hope, has employed it very frequently in
the Hospital at Edinburgh. Dr. Duncan also tells me, that the late
very ingenious and accomplished Mr. Charles Darwin, informed him of
its being used by his father and myself, in cases of Hydrothorax, and
that he has ever since mentioned it in his lectures, and sometimes
employed it in his practice.

At length, in the year 1783, it appeared in the new edition of the
Edinburgh Pharmacopoeia, into which, I am told, it was received in
consequence of the recommendation of Dr. Hope. But from which, I am
satisfied, it will be again very soon rejected, if it should continue
to be exhibited in the unrestrained manner in which it has heretofore
been used at Edinburgh, and in the enormous doses in which it is now
directed in London.

In the following cases the reader will find other diseases besides
dropsies; particularly several cases of consumption. I was induced to
try it in these, from being told, that it was much used in the West of
England, in the Phthisis Pulmonalis, by the common people. In this
disease, however, in my hands, it has done but little service, and yet
I am disposed to wish it a further trial, for in a copy of Parkinson's
Herbal, which I saw about two years ago, I found the following
manuscript note at the ar