On the fifth day there was reason to think that some gall had been secreted and poured out, and this became every day more evident; but it flowed only in small quantity, and irregularly into the bowels, as appeared from the fæces being partially tinged by it.
In February the lady left this neighbourhood, and though convalescent, yet so nearly well as to promise us the satisfaction of seeing her perfectly restored.
June 29. The bile is now secreted in pretty good quantity, her appetite is perfectly good, her strength equal to almost any degree of exercise, and her health in general better than it has been for some years.
CASE III.
Mr. W——, aged—. In June, 1782, was affected with slight difficulty in respiration, upon taking exercise or lying down in bed. These symptoms increased gradually until the end of July, when he complained of sense of weight and uneasiness about the prœcordia; loss of appetite; and costiveness. The urine was small in quantity, and high coloured; his pulse feeble, and intermitting; he breathed with difficulty when in bed, and slept little. After the exhibition of an emetic, and an opening medicine of rhubarb, sena, and sal tartari, he was directed to take half a dram of squill pill, pharm. Edinburg. night and morning, with ʒss sal. sodæ in ℥iss. infus. amar. simpl. twice a day; and these medicines were continued during ten days, without any sensible effect. A blister was then applied to the sternum, and six grains of calomel given in the evening. The symptoms were now increased very considerably, in every particular; and the following infusion was substituted for the former medicines.
R. Fol. Digital. purpur. ʒiii.
Cort. limon. ʒii. infund.
Aq. bullient. ℔i. per hor. 2 et cola. sumat cochl. i. primo mane et repet. omni hora.
Sometime in the night considerable nausea occurred, and the following day he began to make water in great quantity, which he continued to do for three or four days. The pulse in a few hours became regular, slower, and stronger, and, in the course of a week, all the symptoms entirely vanished, and an electuary of cort. peruvian, sal martis, and spec. aromatic. confirmed his cure.
In February, 1784, this gentleman had a relapse of his disease, from which he again soon recovered by the same means, and is now perfectly well.
CASE IV.
G—— A——, a husbandman, aged 57. Was in the year 1782 affected with a slight, but constant pain in his breast, with difficult respiration. His countenance was yellow; the abdomen swelled, and hard; his urine high coloured, and in small quantity; appetite and sleep little. Complained of frequent nausea, and of sudden profuse sweatings, which seemed for a short time to relieve the dyspnœa.