Sect. XXIX. 5. 2. ABSORBENTS. ^9 



weaken him.— He became after fome weeks univerfally drbpfica?, 

 and died comatofe. 



6. A young lady of delicate conftitution, with light eyes and 

 hair, and who .had perhaps lived too abftemioufly both in relpetl: 



•to the quantity and quality of what (he ate and drank, was fell- 

 ed with great difficulty of breathing, fo as to threaten immedi- 

 ate death. Her extremities were quite cold, and her breath fek 

 -cold to the back of one\s hand. She had no fweat, nor could 

 Jie down for a fmgle moment ; and had previouily, and at prev- 

 ent, complained of great weaknefs and pain and numbnefs of 

 both her arms ; had no f welling of her legs, no thirft, water in 

 due quantity and colour. Her filler, about a year before, was 

 r-affli&ed with fimilar fymptoms, was repeatedly blooded, and di - 

 ■ed univerfally dropfical. 



A grain of opium was given immediately, and repeated every 

 ■fix hours with evident and amazing advantage ; afterwards a. 

 Jblifter, with chalybeates, bitters, and effential oils, were exhibit- 

 ed, out nothing had fuch eminent effect in relieving the difficul- 

 ty of breathing and coldnefs of her extremities as opium, by 

 the ufe of which in a few weeks (lie perfectly regained her 

 Jxealtb, and has fuffered no relapfe. 



Afckes. 



7. A young lady of delicate conftitution having been expo- 

 fed to great fear, cold, and fatigue, by the overturn of a chaife 

 •in the night, began with pain and tumour in the right hypo- 

 chondrium : in a few months a fluctuation was felt throughout 

 ihe whole abdomen, more diftinctly perceptible indeed about the 

 region of the ftomach ; fince the integuments of the lower part 

 of the abdomen generally become thickened in this difeafe by a 

 degree of anafarca. Her legs were not fwelied, no third, water 

 in due quantity and colour. — She took the foxglove fo as to in- 

 duce ficknefs and ftools, but without abating the f welling, and 

 was obliged at length to fubmit to the operation of tapping. 



8. A man about fixty-feven, who had long been accuftomed 

 to fpirituous potation, had fome time laboured under afcites 5 

 his legs fomewhat fwelied ; his breath eafy in all attitudes ; no 

 appetite ; great thirft ; urine in exceedingly fmall quantity, very 

 deep coloured, and turbid ; pulfe equal. He took the foxglove 

 in fuch quantity as vomited him, and induced ficknefs for two 

 days ; but procured no flow of urine, or diminution of his fwell- 

 ing ; but was thought to leave him confiderably weaker. 



9. A corpulent man, accuftomed to a large potation of fer- 

 mented liauors, had vehement cough, difficult breathing, ana- 

 farca 



