On the Use of Datura Stramonium. 161 



VIII. On the Use of Datura Stramonium, in Dropsy. 

 In a letter to the Editor, from William Bald- 

 win, M, D., of Wilmington, in the State of Dela- 

 nvare. 



Dear Sir, 



THE case of dropsy, cured by the Datura Stra- 

 monium, which I mentioned to you some time ago, and 

 of which you desired a more particular account than I 

 was then able to give, is as follows : 



A. C, of York county, 55 years of age, of a robust 

 but intemperate habit, by trade a stone-mason, had 

 been afflicted with a dropsical complaint for upwards of a 

 year. During this time, he had made use of all the 

 common remedies for that stubborn disease, without 

 any permanent effect. He had been twice relieved by 

 the nitrate of potash; but this medicine, from its con- 

 stant use, ceased to have a good effect, and injured the 

 tone of his stomach, and relapses were speedily the con- 

 sequence. 



I first saw him on the 21st of July, 1803. At this 

 time he had ascites, anasarca, hydrocele, and some 

 symptoms of hydrothorax. His abdomen was greatly dis- 

 tended; his thighs, legs, feet, arms, and hands, in the 

 same situation. In this deplorable condition, he was 

 confined, for the most part, to his bed, supported with 

 pillows, in an erect posture, being unable to lie down, 

 from the difficulty of breathing which it occasioned. 

 His pulse indicated a languid degree of febrile action, 



