DIGITALIS PURPUREA. 251 
them as much boiling water as the pitcher would hold. Of this 
strong infusion he took a teacupful on going to bed, which 
caused him to sleep soundly. In the morning he took a second 
cupful (the infusion being much stronger), and he then went to 
his employment. He soon felt dizzy and heavy, began to 
stagger, lost his consciousness, and at length fell down in a state 
of syncope. On being conveyed home, he vomited severely, 
and suffered extreme pain in the abdomen. When visited, he 
was conscious; complained of great pain in the head; the 
pupils were dilated, and the surface cold, pallid, and covered 
with copious perspiration. The pulse was low, about forty a 
minute, three or four feeble pulsations being succeeded by a 
complete intermission of several seconds, and each stroke, 
though weak, was given with a peculiar “ explosive shock.’ 
There was still great pain in the abdomen, with incessant and 
violent vomiting, no diarrhoea, suppression of urine, and an 
abundant flow of saliva. Brandy and ammonia, with warmth, 
were employed, and after reaction had commenced, purgatives 
were administered. ‘The man slowly recovered, but the pulse 
presented its peculiar beat and weakness for several days, 
and during this time the man could not bear the upright po- 
sition” (Wilson, Med. Gazette, vol. xxxiv., p. 659). 
“R.N., etat. 60, subject to irregular gout and dyspepsia ; 
considerable dyspnea; legs edematous, and spotted with a few 
petechiz. Half an ounce of infusion of Digitalis was given 
daily for some time, and then in lesser quantities. During the 
use of no more than two drachms of the infusion daily, a pain 
came over one of his eyes. He complained of great disturb- 
ance of his brain, which he himself referred to the draughts, 
and within twenty-four hours this symptom was followed by a 
watery exhausting diarrhea and low delirium. General con- 
vulsions speedily ensued, in which there was complete insensi- 
bility, and foaming at the mouth, with an almost total cessation 
of the action of the heart. From this state he was recovered 
by an opiate injection. Similar paroxysms returned two or 
