CASE CXXXI.
July 12th. Mrs. A——, of C——, Æt. 56. After a series of indispositions for several years, became dropsical; and had long been confined to her chamber, unable to lie down or to walk. She was so feeble, her legs so much swelled, her breath so short, and the symptoms of diseased viscera so strong, that I dared not to entertain hopes of a cure; but wishing to relieve her more urgent symptoms, directed quicksilver rubbed down and fol. Digital. pulv. to be made into pills: the dose, containing two grains of the latter, to be given night and morning. She was also ordered to take a draught with a dram of æther twice a day, and to have scapulary issues. Her breath was so much relieved, that she was able soon afterwards to come down stairs; but her constitution was too much broken to admit of a recovery.
CASE CXXXII.
July 16th. Mr. B——, of W——, Æt. 31. After a tertian ague of 12 months continuation, suffered great indisposition for 10 months more. He chiefly complained of great straitness and pain in the hypochondriac region, very short breath, swelled legs, want of appetite. He had been under the care of some very sensible practitioners, but his complaints increased, and he determined to come to Birmingham. I found him supported upright in his chair, by pillows, every attempt to lean back or stoop forward giving him the sensation of instantaneous suffocation. He said he had not been in bed for many weeks. His countenance was sunk and pale; his lips livid; his belly, thighs and legs very greatly swollen; hands and feet cold, the nails almost black, pulse 160 tremulous beats in a minute, but the pulsation in the carolid arteries was such as to be visible to the eye, and to shake his head so that he could not hold it still. His thirst was very great, his urine small in quantity, and he was disposed to purge. I immediately ordered a spoonful of the infusum Digitalis every six hours, with a small quantity of laudanum, to prevent its running off by stool, and decoction of leontodon taraxacum to allay his thirst. The next day he began to make water freely, and could allow of being put into bed, but was raised high with pillows. Omit the infusion. That night he parted with six quarts of water, and the next night could lie down and slept comfortably. July 21st. he took a mild mercurial bolus. On the 25th. the diuretic effects of the Digitalis having nearly ceased, he was ordered to take three grains of the pulv. Digital. night and morning, for five days, and a draught with half an ounce of vin. chalyb. twice a day. August 15th. He took a purge of calomel and jallap, and some swelling still remaining in his legs, the Digitalis infusion was repeated. The water having been thus entirely evacuated, he was ordered saline draughts with acetum scilliticum and pills of salt of steel and extract of gentian. About a month after this, he returned home perfectly well.
CASE CXXXIII.
July 28th. Mr. A—— of W——, Æt. 29, became dropsical towards the close of a pulmonary consumption. He was ordered 12 grains of pulv. fol. cicutæ and 1 of Digitalis twice a day. No remarkable effect took place.
CASE CXXXIV.
July 31. Mr. M——, Æt 37. Hydrothorax. A single grain of fol. Digital. pulv. taken every night for three weeks cured him. The medicine never made him sick, but increased his urine, which became clear; whereas before it had been high coloured and turbid.
CASE CXXXV.
August 6th. Mr. C—— of B——, Æt. 42. Asthma and anasarca, the consequence of free living. He had been for some time under the care of an eminent physician of this place, but his complaints proving unusually obstinate, he consulted me. I directed an infusion of Digitalis to be taken every night, and a mixture with squill and tincture of cantharides twice every day. In about a week he became better, and continued daily mending. He has since enjoyed perfect health, having quitted a line of business which exposed him to drink too much.