79 TURNBULL ON RANUNCULACE. 
third day after the first application of the ointment; there was, 
however, a relapse in- about a week afterwards, but the pain was 
again removed by the friction, and the patient is now quite well. 
In addition to these, I have prescribed the Veratrine ointment in 
three cases of painful affections in the course of the sciatic nerve ; 
they went on gradually improving and are now removed. 
About the diuretic effects of the Veratria there can be no doubt ; 
in every instance in which I have employed it, the application has 
been followed by an increased discharge of straw-coloured urine. 
In dropsical cases occurring in old persons, after. the diuretics in 
common use have been carried as far as the stomach can bear them, 
it will be of great utility while the use of internal remedies is 
suspended. I have three such cases at present under its influence, 
and all of them are going on favourably, and likely to terminate 
well. 
April 27th, 1834. 
Case illustrative of the effect of Frictions with Veratria Oint- 
ment in Palpitation, communicated by William Porter, 
Eisq., Surgeon, Gower Street. 
A LADY, about twenty-eight years of age, has suffered from a_ 
dropsical affection for about eighteen months, accompanied with a 
considerable degree of palpitation of the heart and irregularity of 
the pulse, and these symptoms appeared to be connected with irre- 
gular menstruation, from which the patient had suffered for some 
time. The lower extremities were cedematous, and there was dif- 
ficulty of respiration and general nervous excitement. In the 
treatment of the disease various measures were employed without 
much benefit, until about two months ago, when the cedematous 
state of the extremities was much relieved by the use of diuretics 
and drastic purgatives; the palpitation, however, continued the 
same as before. As this latter symptom was peculiarly annoying 
to the patient, the attempt was made to remove it by means of an 
ointment made with twenty grains of Veratria to one drachm of 
lard, and a small part of this was ordered to be rubbed over the 
region of the heart for ten minutes night and morning. After the 
second or third friction the palpitation disappeared along with the 
irregularity in the pulse; this took place about eight weeks ago, 
and although the patient is still unwell, it has not returned. 
June 20th, 1835. 
THE END. 
