e for any length of time. At length it occurred to me, that
though the pump was a wooden one, the piston might work in lead. I
therefore ordered the pump rods to be drawn up, and upon examination
with a magnifying glass, found the leather of the piston covered with
an infinite number of very minute shining particles of lead. Perhaps
in this instance the metal was so minutely divided by abrasion, as to
be mechanically suspended in the water. The lady was directed to drink
the water of a spring, and never to swallow that from the pump. The
event confirmed my suspicions, for she gradually recovered a good
state of health, lost the obstinate costiveness, and has never to this
day had any attack of the colic.

CASE LIII.

_September_ 28th. Mrs. J----, AEt. 70. Ascites and very thick
anasarcous legs and thighs, total loss of strength and appetite.
Infusion of Digitalis was given, but, as had been prognosticated, with
no good effect.

CASE LIV.

_September_ 30th. Mr. A----, AEt. 57. A strong man; hydrothorax and
swelled legs; in other respects not unhealthful. He was directed to
take two grains of the Pulv. fol. Digit. made into a pill with gum
ammoniac. Forty grains thus taken at intervals, effected a cure by
increasing the quantity of urine, and he has had no relapse.

CASE LV.

_November_ 2d. Mr. P---- of T----, AEt. 42. A very strong man, drank a
great quantity of strong ale, and was much exposed to alterations of
heat and cold. About the end of summer found himself short winded, and
lost his appetite. The dyspnoea gradually increased, he got a most
distressing sense of tightness across his stomach, his urine was
little, and high coloured, and his legs began to swell; his pulse
slender and feeble. From the 20th of _September_ I frequently saw him,
and observed a gradual and regular increase of all his complaints,
notwithstanding the use of the most powerful medicines I could
prescribe. He took chrystals of tartar, seneka, gum ammoniac, saline
draughts, emetics, tinct. of cantharides, spirits of nitre dulcified,
squills in all forms, volatile alkaly, calomel, Dover's powder, &c.
Blisters and drastic purgatives were tried, interposing salt of steel
and gentian. I had all along felt a reluctance to prescribe the
Digitalis in this case, from a persuasion that it would not succeed.
At length I was compelled to it, and direct