74 ON DIGITALIS, WITH SOME OBSEEVATIONS ON THE URINE. 



the pulse and respiration coincidently, the topical action of 

 digitalis, the points of resemblance and difference between it 

 and other cardiac poisons, and its action on the blood and 

 capillaries, but I hope that I may yet be able to clear up these. 



Therapeutic Action. 



Soon after Withering announced the property digitalis 

 possesses of slowing the heart's action, physicians began to 

 employ it in haemorrhages, and Ferriar especially used it in 

 haemoptysis, in the early stages of phthisis, and thought it might 

 possibly heal ulcerated cavities in more advanced stages. Dr. 

 Brinton thinks it is the best remedy for haemorrhage from pul- 

 monary cavities, in the dose of 30 to 90 minims every four or 

 six hours. It is also said to be useful in epistaxis, and Mr. W. 

 H. Dickinson found it of the utmost service in menorrhagia, 

 curing in a few days a case thought to be almost at the point of 

 death. He gives the infusion in the dose of ^ss. three times a 

 day. He thinks that as an oxytoxic it is quite as powerful as ergot. 

 It is from the contraction of the uterus itself, and not from the 

 contraction of its vessels, that the benefit is derived ; and this 

 idea he supports, not only by showing that it causes pains like 

 labour pains, and expulsion of clots, but that, in a case of fun- 

 goid tumour of the os, it did no good whatever ; while, if the 

 benefit had been from the contraction of the vessels, it ought 

 to have been as great in this case as it is when the cause of 

 haemorrhage is within the uterus. Ferriar thought that in 

 inflammatory fever it was useful instead of bleeding and purg- 

 ing, and Currie confirms his observations, saying he had found 

 it useful, not only in acute inflammation of the brain, hearty 

 and lungs, but in acute rheumatism. Several continental 

 authors have borne favourable testimony to its use in acute 

 inflammation. Hirtz gives a case of pneumonia, which he 

 treated first by tartar emetic and venesection ; but in two days 

 these produced no amendment, the pulse remaining at 118, and 

 the temperature at 104*6°. Digitalis was then given for 

 two days, and the pulse fell to 82, and the temperature to 98-6°. . 

 Although the medicine was now discontinued, on the third day 

 the pulse was 53, and the temperature 97*3°. Eeturning crepi- . 



