SECT. XXIX. 5. 2. ABSORBENTS. 257 



fmall dofes of ipecacuanha, which operated upwards and down- 

 wards, but recurred in a few days : the was then dire&ed a de- 

 codion of foxglove, (digitalis purpurea) prepared by boiling fout 

 ounces of the fre(h leaves from two pints of water to one pint ; 

 to which were added two ounces of vinous fpirit \ fhe took three 

 large fpoonfuls of this mixture every two hours, till (he had 

 taken it four times ; a continued ficknefs fupervened, with fre- 

 quent vomiting, and a copious flow of urine : thefe evacuations 

 continued at intervals for two or three days, and relieved the 

 difficulty of breathing She had fome relapfes afterwards, which 

 were again relieved by the repetition of the decodion of foxglove. 



2. A gentlemen, about fixty years of age, who had been ad- 

 dicled to an immoderate ufe of fermented liquors, and had been 

 very corpulent, gradually loll his flrength and fleih, had great 

 difficulty of breathing, with legs fomewhat fwelled, and a very 

 irregular pulfe. He was very much diftrefled at fir ft lying down, 

 and at firft rifmg from his bed, yet in a minute or two was eafy 

 in both thefe attitudes. He made ftraw-coloured urine in due 

 quantity, and had no pain or numbnefs of his arms. 



He took a large fpoonful of the decoclion of foxglove, as above, 

 every hour, for ten or twelve fucceffive hours had incefTant fick- 

 nefs for about two days, and pafTed a large quantity of urine ; 

 upon which his breath became quite eafy, and the fwelling of 

 his legs fubfided ; but as his whole conflitution was already fink- 

 ing from the previous intemperance of his life, he did not fur r " 

 vive more than three or four mouths. 



Hydrops Perlcardn. 



3. A gentleman of temperate life and fedulous application rt> 

 bufmefs, between thirty and forty years of age, had long been 

 fubjeft, at intervals, to an irregular pulfe : a few months ago he 

 became weak, with difficulty of breathing, and dry cough. In 

 this (ituation aphyfician of eminence directed him to abitain from 

 all animal food and fermented liquor, during which regimen all 

 his complaints increafed \ he now became emaciated, and total- 

 ly loft his appetite ; his pulfe very irregular both in velocity and 

 ftrength ; with great difficulty of breathing, and fome fwelling 

 of his legs ; yet he could lie down horizontally in his bed though 

 he got little fleep, and pafled a due quantity of urine, and of the 

 natural colour : no fulnefs or hardnefs could be perceived about 

 the region of the liver ; and he had no pain or numbnefs in his 

 arms. 



One night he had a moft prof ufe fweat all over his body and 



limbs which^ quite deluged his bed, and for a day or two fome- 



VOL. L K K what 



