sly, and he was cured.

CASE XI.

_July_ 10th. Mr. M---- of T----, AEt. 54. A very hard drinker; had been
affected since _November_ last with ascites and anasarca, for which he
had taken several medicines without benefit. A decoction of the recent
leaves of the Digitalis was then directed, an ounce and half to a
pint, one eighth of which I ordered to be given every fourth hour. A
few doses brought on great nausea, indistinct vision, and a great flow
of urine, so as presently to empty him of all the dropsical water.
Indeed the evacuation was so rapid and so complete, that it became
necessary to apply a bandage round the belly, and to support him with
cordials.

In something more than a year and a half, his dropsy returned, but the
Digitalis did not then succeed to our wishes. In _August_, 1779, he
was tapped, and lived afterwards only about five weeks.

For more particulars, see the extract of a letter from Mr. Lyon.

CASE XII.

_September_ 12th. Miss C---- of T----, AEt 48. An ovarium dropsy, and
anasarcous legs and thighs. For three months in the beginning of this
year she had been under the care of Dr. Darwin, who at different times
had given her blue vitriol, elaterium, and calomel; decoction of
pareira brava, and guiacum wood, with tincture of cantharides; oxymel
of squills, decoction of parsley roots, &c. Finding no relief, she
discontinued the use of medicines, until the urgency of her symptoms
induced her to ask my advice about the end of _August_. She was
greatly emaciated, and had almost a total loss of appetite. I first
tried small doses of Merc. sublim. corr. in solution, with decoction
of burdock roots, and blisters to the thighs. No advantage attending
the use of this plan, I directed a decoction of Fol. Digit. a dram and
half to a pint; one ounce to be taken twice a day. It presently
reduced the anasarcous swellings, but made no alteration in the
distension of the abdomen.

CASE XIII.

_October_ 9th. Mrs. B----, AEt. 40. An ovarium dropsy. Took a decoction
of Digitalis without effect. Her life was preserved for some years by
repeated tapping.

1778.

CASE XIV.

_February_ 8th. Mr. R---- of K----. Had formerly suffered much from
gout, and lived very intemperately. Jaundiced countenance; ascites;
legs and thighs greatly swollen; appe