CASE CXL.
Sept. 20th. B—— B——, Esq. A true spasmodic asthma of many years continuance. After every method of relief had failed; both under my management, and also under the direction of several of the ablest physicians of this kingdom; I was induced to give him an infusion of the Digitalis. It was continued until nausea came on, but procured no relief.
CASE CXLI.
October 5th. Mr. R——, Æt. 43. (The patient mentioned at [No. 102].) He had pursued his former mode of life, and had now a return of his complaints, with evident marks of diseased viscera. His belly not very large, but uncommonly tense. From this circumstance I did not expect the Digitalis to succeed, and therefore tried for some time to relieve him by the saline julep, with acet. scillitic. jallap, mercury, syrup of squill, with aq. cinnam. decoction of Dandelion, &c.; but these being administered without advantage, I was driven to the Digitalis. As he was very weak and much emaciated, I only gave two grains night and morning for five days. As no increase of urine took place, I used alkaline salt with tinct. cantharides:—This proving equally unsuccessful, on the 18th, I directed two ounces of the infusum Digitalis night and morning. This was continued until nausea took place, but the kidney secretion was not increased. Squill with opium, deobstruents of different kinds, sublimate solution, fixed alkaly, tobacco infusion, were now successively tried, but with the same want of success. The fullness of his belly made it necessary to tap him, and by repeating this operation he continued alive to the end of the year.
CASE CXLII.
October 19th. Mrs. R——, of B——, Æt. 47. Supposed Asthma, of eighteen months duration. She had kept her room for four months, and could not lie down without great disturbance; was very thin, and had totally lost all inclination for food. She was directed to take two gr. of pulv. fol. Digital. night and morning for five days, and infusum amarum, at the hours of eleven and five. In the course of a week she was much relieved, and could remain in bed all night. After a few days interval she took the Digitalis for five days more, and was soon after that well enough to come down stairs and conduct her family affairs.
In April 1785, she had a slight return, but not such as to confine her to her chamber. She experienced the same relief from the same medicine, but continuing it for seven days without interruption, it excited nausea.
CASE CXLIII.
October 28th. Mr. A——, subject to nephritis calculosa: After an attack of that kind, had still a troublesome sense of weight about his loins, now and then rising to pain, and a degree of dysuria, together with a want of appetite. These symptoms not readily yielding to the usual methods of treatment, I directed an infusion of Digitalis. The fourth dose caused a copious flow of urine; the sixth made him sick, and he was more or less sick at times for three days; but felt no more of his complaints.
I don't believe it is at all necessary to bring on sickness in these cases, but an unexpected absence from town prevented me from seeing him time enough to stop the exhibition of the medicine.