about her stomach, countenance fallen, lips livid, could not
lie down.
The usual modes of practice failing, the Digitalis was tried, but with
no better success, and in about a month she died; not without
suspicion of her death having been accelerated a few days, by her
taking half a grain of opium. This may be a caution to young
practitioners to be careful how they venture upon even small doses of
opium in such constitutions, however much they may be urged by the
patient to prescribe something that may procure a little rest and
ease.
CASE LXXVI.
_August_ 12th. Mr. L----, AEt. 65, the person whose Case is recorded at
No. XXIV, had a return of his insanity, after near two years perfect
health. He was extremely reduced when I saw him, and the medicine
which cured him before was now administered without effect, for his
weakness was such that I did not dare to urge it.
CASE LXXVII.
_September_ 10th. Mr. V----, of S----, AEt. 47. A man of strong fibre,
and the remains of a florid complexion. His disease an ascites and
swelled legs, the consequence of a very free course of life; he had
been once tapped, and taken much medicine before I saw him. The
Digitalis was now directed: it lowered his pulse, but did not prove
diuretic. He returned home, and soon after was tapped again, but
survived the operation only a few hours.
CASE LXXVIII.
_September_ 25th. Mr. O----, of M----, AEt. 63. Very painful and
general swellings in all his limbs, which had confined him mostly to
his bed since the preceding winter; the swellings were uniform, tense,
and resisting, but the skin not discoloured. After trying guiacum and
Dover's powder without advantage. I directed Infusion of Digitalis. It
acted on the kidneys, but did net relieve him. It is not easy to say
what the disease was, and the patient living at a distance, I never
learnt the future progress or termination of it.
CASE LXXIX.
_September_ 26th. Mr. D----, AEt. 42, a very sensible and judicious
surgeon at B----, in Staffordshire, laboured under ascites and very
large anasarcous legs, together with indubitable symptoms of diseased
viscera. Having tried the usual diuretics to no purpose, I directed a
scruple of Fol. Digital siccat. in a four ounce infusion, a table
spoonful to be taken twice a day. The second bottle wholly removed his
dropsy, wh
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