:t. XXIX. 5. 2. ABSORBENTS. 257 



fmall dofes of ipecacuanha, which operated upwards and down- 

 wards, but recurred in a few days : (he was then directed a de- 

 cocYion of foxglove, (digitalis purpurea) prepared by boiling four 

 ounces of the frefh leaves from two pints of water to one pint ; 

 to which were added two ounces of vinous fpirit : (he took three 

 large fpoonfuls of this mixture every two hours, till the. had 

 taken it four times *, a continued ficknefs fupervened, with fre- 

 quent vomiting, and a copious flow of urine s thefe evacuations 

 continued at intervals for two or three days, and relieved the 

 difficulty of breathing.- — She had fome relapfes afterwards, which 

 were again relieved by the repetition of the decoction of foxglove. 



2. A gentleman, about fixty years of age, who had been ad- 

 dicted to an immoderate ufe of fermented liquors, and had been 

 very corpulent, gradually loft his ftrength and flefh, had great 

 difficulty of breathing, with legs fomewhat fvvelled, and a very- 

 irregular pulfe. He was very much diftreffed at firft lying down, 

 and at firft riling from his bed, yet in a minute or two was eafy 

 in both thefe attitudes. He made ftraw-coloured urine in due 

 quantity, and had no pain or numbnefsof his arms. 



He took a large fpoonful of the decoction of foxglove, as above, 

 every hour, for ten or twelve fucceffive hours, had inceliant fick- 

 nefs for about two days, and palled a large quantity of urine ; 

 upon which his breath became quite eafy, and the fwelling of 

 his legs fubfided \ but as his whole conftitution was already fink- 

 ing from the previous intemperance of his life, he did not fur- 

 vive more than three or four months. 



Hydrops Pericardii. 



3. A gentleman of temperate life and fedulous application 

 bufmefs, between thirty and forty years of age, had long beea 

 fubjett, at intervals, to an irregular pulie : a few months ago he 

 became weak, with difficulty of breathing, and dry cough. In 

 this fituation a phyfician of eminence directed him to abftain from 

 all animal food and fermented liquor, during which regimen all 

 his complaints increafed ; he now became e ited, and total- 



ly loft his appetite \ his pulfe very irregular both in velocity and 

 ftrength \ with great difficulty of breathing, and {oiv.e fv\ 

 of his legs 5 yet he eordd lie down horizontally in his bed, thou 

 he got little lleep, and palled a due quantity of urine, and of : 

 natural colour : no fullnefs or hardnefs could be perceived about; 

 the region of the liver \ and he had no pain or numbnefs in his 

 arms. 



One night he had a mod profufe fvveat all over his body and 

 limbs, which quite deluged his bed, and for a day or two fome- 



Voi... I. & K what 



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