CIASS II. 1. 6. 7. OP SENSATION, 249 



L 5 a corpulent man, who had for some weeks laboured 



under a cough with great expectoration, with quick pulse, and 

 difficulty of breathing, soon recovered by the use of digitalis 

 taken twice a day; and though this case might probably be a 

 peripneumonia notha, or catarrh, it is here, related as shewing 

 the power of pulmonary absorption excited by the use of this 

 drug. 



Since the publication of the above, some successful cases of 

 the treatment of consumption by the tincture of digitalis are re- 

 lated in Medical and Physical Contributions, edited by Dr. Bed- 

 does. Longman, London. Two of the successful cases are from 

 Dr. Drake, who observes, " that by gradually increasing the dose 

 of the saturated tincture of digitalis from 20 drops to 100 twice 

 a day, all the symptoms of fever, cough, pain, and dyspnoea, daily 

 grew better, and at length totally ceased, and that on the quan- 

 tity and quality of the expectorated matter, the digitalis soon ex- 

 erted a very remarkable effect, either promoting its absorption, 

 or diminishing its secretion, or perhaps both, in a rapid manner; 

 while at the same time it deprived it of its fetor." Many cases 

 with great relief, or with prosperous event, are related by Dr. 

 Fowler, and by Dr. Beddoes. One I have also lately seen my- 

 self, whom I believed to be consumptive, and who is of a con- 

 sumptive family, and after having used the saturated tincture 

 about six weeks, or two months, in various doses, is now believed 

 by herself and friends to be perfectly restored to health, but there 

 has not been time enough yet elapsed to determine, whether she 

 may not relapse, now she discontinues the medicine. 



Nevertheless, as the digitalis has been given in many cases 

 without success, there is reason to believe, that it should be taken 

 early in the disease, before too great ulcerations are produced, 

 and too great debility exists. As these patients are subject to 

 flatter themselves more than most others, and are liable, on that 

 account, not to apply soon enough for proper assistance, they 

 should be warned that a cough attended with a pulse that beats 

 120 times in a minute, is always a disease of danger. 



Another method of inducing sickness, and pulmonary absorp- 

 tion in consequence, is by sailing on the sea; by which many 

 consumptive patients have been said to have received their cure; 

 which has been erroneously ascribed to sea-air, instead of sea- 

 sickness; whence many have been sent to breathe the sea-air on 

 the coasts, who might have done better in higher situations, where 

 the air probably contains less oxygen gas, which is the heaviest 

 part of it. See a letter from Dr. J. C. below. 



A third method of inducing sickness, and consequent pulmo- 

 nary absorption, is by the vertigo occasioned by swinging; which 



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