Jfrfc RETROGRADE ABSORBENTS. SECT. XXIX. 5, 



much digefted mucus. This expectoration fud- 

 denly ceafed, and a confiderable difficulty of brea- 

 thing fupervened, with a pulfe 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 attitudes with 

 eafe. She had no pain or numbnefs in her arms 5 

 fhe had no hectic fever, nor any cold fhiverings, 

 and the urine was in due quantity, and of the na- 

 tural colour. 



The difficulty of breathing was twice confidera- 

 bly relieved by fmall dofes of ipecacuanha, which 

 operated upwards and downwards, but recurred in 

 a few days : (he was then directed a decoction of 

 foxglovej (digitalis purpurea) prepared by boiling 

 four ounces of the freih leaves from two pints of 

 water to one pint ; to which was added two ounces 

 of vinous fpirit : me took three large fpoonfuls of 

 this mixture every two hours, till me had taken it 

 four times; a, continued ficknefs fupervened, with 

 frequent vomiting, and a copious flow of urine : 

 thele 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 decoclian of 

 foxglove. 



2. A gentleman, about fixty years of age, who 

 had been addicted to an immoderate ufe of fer* 

 mented liquors, and had been very corpulent, gra- 

 dually loft his ftrength and fleflh, had great diffi- 

 culty of breathing, with legs forriewhat fwelled; 

 and a very irregular pulfe. He was very much 

 diftrefied at firft lying down, and at firft rifing 

 from his bed, yet in a minute or two was eafy in 

 both thofe attitudes- He made ftraw-coloured urine 

 in due quantity, and had no pain or numbnefs of 

 his arms. 



He 



