This plan succeeded perfectly. About a month afterwards he had some rheumatic affections, which were removed by guiacum.
CASE CI.
October 2d. Mrs. R——, Æt. 60. Diseased viscera; ascites and anasarca. Had taken various deobstruent and diuretic medicines to little purpose. The Digitalis brought on a nausea and languor, but had no effect on the kidneys.
CASE CII.
October 12th. Mr. R——, Æt. 41. A publican, and a hard drinker. His legs and belly greatly swollen; appetite gone, countenance yellow, breath very short, and cough troublesome. After a vomit I gave him calomel, saline draughts, steel and bitters, &c. He had taken the more usual diuretics before I saw him. As the dropsical symptoms increased, I changed his medicines for pills made of soap, containing two grains of Pulv. fol. Digital, in each dose, and, as he was costive, two grains of jallap. He took them twice a day, and in a week was free from every appearance of dropsy. The jaundice soon afterwards vanished, and tonics restored him to perfect health.
CASE CIII.
October 12th. Mr. B——, Æt. 39. Kept a public house, drank very freely, and became dropsical; he complained also of rheumatic pains. I directed Infusion of Digitalis, half an ounce twice a day. In eight days the swellings in his legs and the fulness about his stomach disappeared. His rheumatic affections were cured by the usual methods.
CASE CIV.
October 22d. Master B——, Æt. 3. Ascites and universal anasarca. Half a grain of Fol. Digital. siccat. given every six hours, produced no effect; probably the medicine was wasted in giving. An infusion of the dried leaf was then tried, a dram to four ounces, two tea spoonfuls for a dose; this soon increased the flow of urine to a very great degree, and he got perfectly well.