kind to make
me, of the valuable properties you had found in it; I shall consider
my time as well employed. A knowledge of what has been already done is
the best ground work of future experiment; on which account I have
been the more full on this subject, in hopes that given with the
cautions which you mean to lay down in the cure of dropsies, it may
prove alike useful in that of other diseases, one of which stands
foremost among the _opprobria_ of medicine.

[Footnote 8: See this account in the Introduction.]

CASE I.

Mrs. M----. Orthopnea, pain, and excessive oppression at the bottom of
the sternum. Pulse irregular, with frequent intermissions. Appetite
very much impaired. Legs anasarcous.

_Empl. vesicator. pectori dolent._
_Infus. Digital. e [Symbol: dram]iii. ad. aq. &c. [Symbol: ounce]viii.
cochl. j. o. h. donec nausea excitetur vel diuresis satis copiosa
proveniat._

I ordered it of the above strength, and to be repeated often, on
account of the great emergency of the case, but the nausea excited by
the first dose prevented its being given at such short intervals. A 3d
dose I found had been given, which was followed by vomitings. All her
complaints gradually abated, but in about a fortnight recurred,
notwithstanding the use of infus. amar. &c.

_Dec. 2. Infus. Digit. e. [Symbol: dram]iss ad aq. &c.
[Symbol: ounce]viii. cochl. ii. horis &c. u. a._

Complaints gradually abated, swellings of the legs nearly gone down.

About a month afterwards you was desired to visit this patient.[9]

[Footnote 9: For reasons assigned at p. 100, I did not intend
to introduce any case, occurring under my own inspection, in
the course of the present year; but it may be satisfactory to
continue the history of this disease, as Dr. Stokes's
narrative would otherwise be incomplete.

1785.

CASE.

_Jan._ 5th. Mrs. M----, AEt. 48. Hydrothorax and anasarcous
legs, of eight months duration. She had taken jallap, squill,
salt of tartar, and various other medicines. I found her in a
very reduced state, and therefore directed only a grain and
half of the Pulv. Digital. to be given night and morning.
This in a few days encreased the secretion of urine, removed
her difficulty of breathing, and reduced the swelling of her
legs, without any disturbance