Letter from Doctor Johnstone, Physician, in Birmingham.
Dear Sir,
The following cases are selected from many others in which I have given the Digitalis purpurea; and from repeated experience of its efficacy after other diuretics have failed. I can recommend it as an effectual, and when properly managed, a safe medicine.
I am, &c.
E. JOHNSTONE.
Birmingham, May 26, 1785.
March 8th, 1783, I was called to attend Mr. G——, a gentleman of a robust habit, who had led a regular and temperate life, Æt. 68. He was affected with great difficulty of respiration, and cough particularly troublesome on attempting to lie down, œdematous swellings of the legs and thighs, abdomen tense and sore on being pressed, pain striking from the pit of the stomach to the back and shoulders; almost constant nausea, especially after taking food, which he frequently threw up; water thick and high-coloured, passed with difficulty and in small quantity; body costive; pulse natural; face much emaciated, eyes yellow and depressed. He had been subject to cough and difficulty of breathing in the winter for several years; and about four years before this time, after being exposed to cold, was suddenly deprived of his speech and the use of the right side, which he recovered as the warm weather came on; but since that time had been remarkably costive, and was in every respect much debilitated. He first perceived his legs swell about a year ago; by the use of medicines and exercise, the swellings subsided during the summer, but returned on the approach of winter, and gradually increased to the state in which I found them, notwithstanding he had used different preparations of squills and a great variety of other diuretic medicines. I ordered the following mixture.
R. Foliorum Digitalis purpur. recent. ʒiii. decoque ex aq. fontan. ℥xii ad ℥vi colaturæ adde Tinctur. aromatic.
Syr. zinzib. aa ℥i. m. capt. cochl. duo larga secunda quaque hora ad quartam vicem nisi prius nausea supervenerit.
March 9th. He took four doses of the mixture without being in the least sick, and made, during the night upwards of two quarts of natural coloured water.
10th. Took the remainder of the mixture yesterday afternoon and evening, and was sick for a short time, but made nearly the same quantity of water as before, the swellings are considerably diminished, his appetite increased, but he is still costive.
R. Argent, viv. balsam peruv. aa ʒss tere ad extinctionem merc. et adde gum. ammon. ℈iii aloes socotorin. ʒss rad. scil. recent. ℈ss syr. simpl. q. s. f. mass. in pil. xxxii divid. cap. iii. bis in die.