REMARKS.
These Cases, thus liberally communicated by my friend, Dr. Jones, are more acceptable, as they seem to contain a faithful abstract from his notes, both of the unsuccessful as well as the successful Cases.
The following Tabular View of them will give us some Idea of the efficacy of the Medicine.
| Anasarca | 7 Cases | Cured | 3 |
| Relieved | 1 | ||
| Failed | 3 | ||
| Ascites | 5 Cases | Cured | 4 |
| Relieved | 1 | ||
| Œdematous leg | 1 Case | Cured | 1 |
| Ascites and anasarca | 7 Cases | Cured | 4 |
| Relieved | 2 | ||
| Failed | 1 | ||
| Asthma and dropsy | 1 Case | Failed | 1 |
| Hydrothorax and gout | 1 Case | Cured | 1 |
| - - - - -, ascites and anasarca | 2 Cases | Cured | 2 |
A CASE of Anasarca communicated by Mr.
Jones, Surgeon, in Birmingham.
Dear Sir,
Having lately experienced the diuretic powers of the Foxglove, in a case of anasarca; I do myself the pleasure of communicating a short history of the treatment to you.
I am, &c.
W. JONES.
Birmingham,
May 17th, 1785.
My patient, Mrs. C——, who is in her 51st year, had the following symptoms, viz. alternate swelling of the legs and abdomen, a little cough, shortness of breath in a morning, thirst, weak pulse, and her urine, which was so small in quantity as seldom to amount to half a pint in twenty-four hours, deposited a clay-coloured sediment.
April 16th, 1785, I directed the following form:
R. Fol. Digitalis siccat. ʒii.
Aq. fontanæ bullient. ℥viii. f. infus. et cola. Sumat cochl. larga iii. o. n. et mane.
On the 17th she had taken twice of the infusion, and though by mistake only two tea spoonfuls for a dose, yet the quantity of urine was increased to about a pint in the twenty-four hours. She was then directed to take two table spoonfuls night and morning. And.
On the 18th, a degree of nausea was produced. A pint and half of urine was made in the last twenty-four hours. During the time above specified she had two or three stools every day. The infusion was now omitted.
On the 19th the swelling of the legs was removed. A degree of nausea took place in the morning, and increased so much during the day, that she vomited up all her food and medicine. As she was very low, and complained of want of appetite, a cordial julep was directed to be taken occasionally, as well as red port and water, mint tea, &c. She informed me that whatever she took generally staid about an hour before it came up again, and that the mint tea staid longest on the stomach. The vomiting decreased gradually, and ceased on the 22d. The discharge of urine remained considerable during the three following days, but its quantity was not measured.
22d. A dose of neutral saline julep was directed to be taken every fourth hour.
On the 23d she complained of thirst, and thought the discharge of urine not so copious as on the preceding days, therefore the saline julep was continued every fourth hour, with the addition of thirty drops of the following medicine:
R. Aceti scillitic. ʒvi.
Tinct. aromat. ʒii.
Tinct. thebaic. gutt. xx. m.
The bowels have been kept open from the 19th, by the occasional use of emollient injections.
On the 24th the legs were much swelled again; she complained of languor and a degree of nausea. The discharge of urine increased a little since the 23d. Her pulse was low and her tongue white. The urine, which had been rendered clear by the infusion of Foxglove, now deposited a whitish sediment.
On the 25th her appetite began to return, the swelling of the legs diminished, and she thought herself much relieved. The urine was considerable in quantity, and clear.
On the 26th she was thirsty and languid. The swelling was removed; the quantity of urine discharged in the last twenty-four hours was about a pint. She continued to mend from this time, and is now in good health.
A giddiness of the head, more or less remarkable at times, was observed to follow the use of the Foxglove, and it lasted nine or ten days.
This is the second time that I have relieved this patient by the infusion of Foxglove. I used the same proportion of the fresh leaves the first time as I did of the dried ones the last. The violent vomiting which followed the use of the infusion made with the dried leaves, did not take place with the fresh though she took near a pint made with the same proportion of the herb fresh gathered.