SECT. XXIX. 4. 9. ABSORBENTS. 25 1 



The following cafe of chyliferous diabetes is extracted from 

 fome letters of Mr. Hughes, to whofe unremitted care the in- 

 firmary at Stafford for many years was much indebted. Dated 

 O&ober 10, 1778. 



Richard Davis, aged 33, a whitefmith by trade, had drunk 

 hard by intervals j was much troubled with fweating of his hands, 

 which incommoded him in his occupation, but which ceafed on 

 his frequently dipping them in lime. About ieven months ago 

 he began to make large quantities of water ; his legs are oedein- 

 atous, his belly tenfe, and he complains of a rifing in his throat, 

 like the globus hyftericus ; he eats twice as much as other peo- 

 ple, drinks about fourteen pints of fmall beer a day, be fides a 

 pint of ale, fome milk-porridge, and a bafon of broth, and he 

 makes about eighteen pints of water a day. 



He tried alum, dragon's blood, fteel, blue vitriol, and canthar- 

 ides in large quantities, and duly repeated, under the care of 

 Dr. Underbill, but without any effect ; except that on the day 

 after he omitted the cantharides, he made but twelve pints of 

 water, but on the next day this good effecT: ceafed again. 



November 21. He made eighteen pints of water, and he 

 now, at Dr. Darwin's requeft, tooJc a grain of opium every four 

 hours, and five grains of aloes at night ; and had a flannel fhirt 

 given him. 



22. Made fixteen pints. 23. Thirteen pints: drinks lefs. 



24. Increafed the opium to a grain and a quarter every four 

 hours : he made twelve pints. 



25. Increafed the opium to a grain and half: he now makes 

 ten pints, and drinks eight pints in a day. 



The opium was gradually increafed during the next fortnight, 

 till he took three grains ever four hours, but without any fur- 

 ther dimunition of his water. During the ufe of the opium he 

 fvveat much in the nights, fo as to have large drops (land on his 

 face and all over him. The quantity of opium was then gradu*- 

 ally decreated, but not totally omitted, as he continued to take 

 about a grain morning and evening. 



January 17. He makes fourteen pints of water a day. Dr. 

 Underhill now dire&ed him two fcruples of common re fin tritu- 

 rated with as much fugar, every fix hours ; and three grains of 

 opium every night. 



19. Makes fifteen pints of water; fweats at night. 



2i. Makes feventeen pints of water ; has twitchings of his 

 limbs in a morning, and pains of his legs : he now takes a dram 

 of refm for a dofe and continues the opium. 



23. Water more coloured, and reduced to fixteen pints, and 

 he thinks has a brackiih tafle. 



26. Water 



