e
tried, but in vain. Tapping prolonged his existence a few weeks, and
he died early in the following autumn.
CASE XL.
_June_ 27th. Mr. W----, AEt. 37. An apparently asthmatic affection,
gradually increasing for three or four years, which not yielding to
the usual remedies, he took the infusion of Digitalis. Two or three
doses made him very sick; but he thought his breathing relieved. After
one week he took it again, and was so much better as to want no other
medicine.
In the course of the following winter he became hectic, and died
consumptive about a year afterwards.
CASE XLI.
_July_ 6th. Mr. E----, AEt. 57. Hydrothorax and anasarca; his breath so
short that he could not lie down. After a trial of squill, fixed
alkaly, and dulcified spirit of nitre, I directed Pulv. Digital. gr.
2, thrice a day. In four days he was able to come down stairs; in
three days more no appearance of disease remained; and under the use
of aromatics and small doses of opium, he soon recovered his strength.
CASE XLII.
_July_ 7th. Miss H---- of T----, AEt. 39. In the last stage of a
phthisis pulmonalis became dropsical. She took the Digitalis without
being relieved.
CASE XLIII.
_July_ 9th. Mrs. F----, AEt. 70. A chearful, strong, healthy woman; but
for a few years back had experienced a degree of difficult breathing
when in exercise. In the course of the last year her legs swelled, and
she felt great fulness about her stomach. These symptoms continued
increasing very fast, notwithstanding several attempts made by a very
judicious apothecary to relieve her. The more regular practitioner
failing, she had recourse to a quack, who I believe plied her very
powerfully with Daphne laureola, or some drastic purge of that kind. I
found her greatly reduced in strength, her belly and lower extremities
swollen to an amazing size, her urine small in quantity, and her
appetite greatly impaired. For the first fortnight of my attendance
blisters were applied, solution of fixed alkaly, decoction of seneka
with vitriolic aether, chrystals of tartar, squill and cordial
medicines were successively exhibited, but with no advantage. I then
directed Pulv. Fol. Digital. two grains every four hours. After taking
eighteen grains, the urine began to increase. The medicine was then
stopped. The discharge of urine continued t
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