60 ON DIGITALIS, WITH SOME OBSERVATIONS OX THE URINE. 



stantly observed.* I have occasionally noticed the salivation 

 from poisonous doses. f Bouley and Eeynalt observe that the 

 saliva is rather thick, and flows freely from the mouth. 



On the Secretion of the Nasal 3Iucous Mcinhrane. — Stadion§ 

 found that a peculiar affection of this membrane resembling 

 corriza, was a characteristic symptom of digitaline, and I found 

 that for some days before vomiting came on, clear drops of water 

 were always gathering at my nose:|| but I had no reason to 

 suppose that I had caught cold, and I believe t1iis increase of 

 the secretion in my case is confirmatory of Stadion's view. 



The conjunctival secretion was found by Bouley and Eeynal 

 to be dried up in poisoning by large doses. 



On the Sweat. — In cases where it has been taken in doses a 

 little too large, for some time there is usually profuse sweating.f 

 In poisoning, hot sweats appear at first which, as death ap- 

 proaches, dry up and become cold. 



On the Urine. — Since Withering first brought the diuretic 

 properties of digitalis into notice, it has steadily kept its place 

 as one of the best remedies under this class. But though most 

 members of the medical profession believe that it possesses this 

 power, M. Duroziez,** though not entirely denying it, maintains 

 that it is much less frequent than has been alleged, and says 

 that he has not met with a single case clearly proving it. Dr. 

 Germaineft goes still farther, and boldly declares that " there is 

 no proof that digitalis possesses diuretic properties, the reputa- 

 tion conferred upon it to this effect by Withering having been 

 accepted without discussion ; and that the diuresis, which often 

 follows when an amelioration of the condition of the circulation 

 has been produced by it in organic disease of tlie heart, is only 

 a mediate effect resulting from the return of the circulation to 

 its normal condition." The observations on its diuretic effect, 

 especially in anasarca, and to a less degree in effusion into 

 serous cavities, are so numerous that we can hardly doubt its 



* Holland, op. cit., p. 555. f Exp. VI, 4, 42. J 0_p. cit. 



§ Year Book Sydenham Society, 1862, p. 451. 



II I was then ignorant of Sladion's obserrations. 



% Cliristison. op. cit., p. 888. 



** Thesis, Paris, 1853 (H. and Q., p. 29G), 



tt Med. Times and Gaz., Sept. 7, p. 250, 1861, 



