o a pint; an eighth part to be taken every fourth
hour. This made him sick, and produced a copious flow of urine, but
not enough to remove all the dropsical symptoms. After a fortnight a
stronger decoction was ordered, and, upon a third trial, as the winter
advanced, it became necessary to use four ounces to the pint
decoction; and thus he got free from all his complaints.

In _October_ 1777, in consequence of having pursued his intemperate
mode of living, his dropsy returned, accompanied by evident marks of
diseased viscera. A decoction of two drams of Fol. Digital. siccat. to
a pint, once more removed the dropsy. He took a wine glass full thrice
a day.

In _January_ 1778, I was desired to visit him again. I found he had
gone on in his usual intemperate life, his countenance jaundiced, and
the dropsy coming on apace. After giving some deobstruent medicines, I
again directed the Digitalis, which again emptied the water; but he
did not survive many weeks.

1777.

CASE VI.

_February_--. Mrs. M----, AEt. 45. Ascites and anasarca, but not much
otherwise diseased, and well enough to walk about the house, and see
after her family affairs. I thought this a fair case for a trial of
the Digitalis, and therefore directed a decoction of the fresh leaves,
the stock of dried ones being exhausted. About a week afterwards,
calling to see my patient, I was informed that she was dead; that the
third day after my first visit she suddenly fell down, and expired.
Upon enquiry I found she had not taken any of the medicine; for the
snow had lain so deep upon the ground, that the apothecary had not
been able to procure it. Had the medicine been given in a case
seemingly so favourable as this, and had the patient died under its
use, is it not probable that the death would have been attributed to
it?

CASE VII.

_February_ 11th. Mr. E----, of W----, AEt. 61. Hydrothorax, ascites and
anasarca, consequences of hard drinking. He had been attended for some
time by a physician in his neighbourhood, who had treated his case
with the usual remedies, but without affording him any relief; nor
could I expect to succeed better by any other medicine than the
Digitalis. The dried leaves were not to be had; and the green ones at
this season being very uncertain in their strength, I ordered four
ounces of the roots in a pint decoction, and directed thr