256 RETROGRADE SECT. XXIX. 5. 2, 



that they evacuate the ftomach, produce a great abforption of 

 the lymph accumulated in the cellular membrane In the op- 

 eration of a vomit, not only the motions of the ftomach and du- 

 odenum become inverted, but alfo thofe of the lymphatics and 

 lacleals, which belong to them ; whence a great quantity of 

 chyle and lymph is perpetually poured into the llomach and in- 

 teftines, during the operation, and evacuated by the mouth. 

 Now at the fame time, other branches of the lymphatic fyflem, 

 viz. thofe which open on the cellular membrane, are brought in- 

 to more energetic action, by the fympathy above mentioned, and 

 an increafe of their abforption is produced. 



Hence repeated vomits, and cupreous falts, and fmall dofes of 

 fquill or foxglove, are fo efficacious in rhis difraie. And as draf- 

 tic purges acl alfo by inverting the motions of the latleals ; and 

 thence the other branches of lymphatics are induced into more 

 powerful natural adion, by fympathy, and drink up the fluids 

 from all the cells of the body ; and by their anaitomOiCS. pour 

 them into the lacleal branches , which, by their inverted aclions, 

 return them into the inteftines , and they are thus evacua- 

 ted from the body : thefe purges alfo are uied with fuccefs in 

 difcharging the accumulated fluid in anafarca. 



II. The following cafes are related with defign to afcertnin 

 the particular kinds of dropfy in which the digitalis purpurea, 

 or common foxglove, is preferable to fquill, or other evacuants, 

 and were firft publifhed in 1780, in a pamphlet entitled Exper- 

 iments on mucilaginous and purulent Matter, &c. Cadell. Lon- 

 don. Other cafes of dropfy, treated with digitalis, were after- 

 wards publiftied by Dr Darwin in the Medical TraniaHons, 

 vol. iii. in which there is a miftake in refpedt to the dofe of the 

 powder of foxglove, which fhould have been from five grains to 

 one, inftead of from five grains to ten. 



Anafarca of the Lungs. 



I. A lady, between forty and fifty years of age, had been in- 

 difpofed fome time, was then feized with cough and fever, and 

 afterwards expectorated much digefted mucus. This expeclo- 

 ration fuddenly ceafed, and a confiderabie difficulty of breathing 

 fupervened, with a pulle very irregular both in velocity and 

 flrength ; (he was much diftrefled at firft lying down, and at 

 firft rifing ; but after a minute or two bore either of thofe atti- 

 tudes with eafe. She had no pain or numbnefs in her arms ; 

 fhe had no hectic fever, nor any cold fhivenngs, and the urine 

 was in due quantity, and of the natural colour 



The difficulty of breathing was twice confiderably relieved by 



fmal! 



