ake notes.
Upon the whole, however, it may be concluded, that the medicine was
found useful, or I should not have continued to employ it.

CASE I.

_December_ 8th. A man about fifty years of age, who had formerly been
a builder, but was now much reduced in his circumstances, complained
to me of an asthma which first attacked him about the latter end of
autumn. His breath was very short, his countenance was sunken, his
belly large; and, upon examination, a fluctuation in it was very
perceptible. His urine for some time past had been small in quantity.
I directed a decoction of Fol. Digital. recent. which made him very
sick, the sickness recurring at intervals for several days, during
which time he made a large quantity of water. His breath gradually
drew easier, his belly subsided, and in about ten days he began to
eat with a keen appetite. He afterwards took steel and bitters.

1776.

CASE II.

_January_ 14th. A poor man labouring under an ascites and anasarca,
was directed to take a decoction of Digitalis every four hours. It
purged him smartly, but did not relieve him. An opiate was now ordered
with each dose of the medicine, which then acted upon the kidneys very
freely, and he soon lost all his complaints.

CASE III.

_March_ 15th. A poor boy, about nine years of age, was brought for my
advice. His countenance was pale, his pulse quick and feeble, his body
greatly emaciated, except his belly, which was very large, and, upon
examination, contained a fluid. The case had been considered as
arising from worms. He was directed to take the decoction of Digitalis
night and morning. It operated as a diuretic, never made him sick, and
he got well without any other medicine.

CASE IV.

_July_ 25th. Mrs. H----, of A----, near N----, between forty and fifty
years of age, a few weeks ago, after some previous indisposition, was
attacked by a severe cold shivering fit, succeeded by fever; great
pain in her left side, shortness of breath, perpetual cough, and,
after some days, copious expectoration. On the 4th of _June_, Dr.
Darwin,[4] was called to her. I have not heard what was then done for
her, but, between the 15th of _June_, and 25th of _July_, the Doctor,
at his different visits, gave her various medicines of the
deobstruent, tonic, antispasmodic, diu