Jfkcr.XXlX;$. RETROGRADE ABSORBENTS. 379 



He took a large fpoonful of the decodion of fox- 

 glove, as above, every hour, for ten or twelve fuc- 

 ceflive hours, had inceflant ficknefs for about two 

 days, and pafTed a large quantity of urine, upon 

 which his breath became quite eafy, and the fwell- 

 ihg of his legs fubfided ; but as his whole confti- 

 tution was already finking from the previous intem- 

 perance of his life, he did not furyive more than 

 three or four months. 



Hydrops Pericardii. 



3. A gentleman of temperate life and fedulou^ 

 application to bufmefs, between thirty and forty 

 years of age, had long been fubjecl, at intervals, to 

 an irregular pulfe : a few months ago he became 

 vveak, with difficulty of breathing, and dry cough. 

 In this fituation a phyfician of eminence directed 

 him to abflain from all animal food arid fermented 

 liquor, during which regimen all his complaints 

 increaTed ; he now became emaciated, and totally 

 loft his appetite ; his pulfe Very irregular both in 

 velocity and ftrength; with great difficulty of breath- 

 ing, and fo me f welling of his legs; yet he could 

 lie down horizontally in his bed, though he got 

 little fleep, and paflfed a due quantity of urine, and 

 of the natural colour: no fullnefs 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 profufe fweat all ovec 

 his body and lim'bs, which quite deluged his bed, 

 and for a day or two fomewhat relieved his diffi- 

 culty of breathing, and his puife became lefs irre- 

 gular : this copious fweat recurred three or four 

 times at the intervals of five or fix days,, and re- 

 peatedly alleviated his fymptonis. 



C G He 



