76 ON DIGITALIS, WITH SOME 



has used a pill of musk, 1 grain, ext. digital., IJ grains, and 

 ext. opii gr. J, in neuralgia, and its effects he describes as being 

 magical. Mr. Hardwicke gives -J grain of the powder in the 

 same affection, and with similar results. According to Thomas, 

 it effects a permanent cure in epilepsy ; and Parkinson, Moll, 

 Corrigan, Crampton, Sharkey, Nelegan, and Duclos, have all 

 employed it with success. In the second stage of general 

 paresis of the insane, that of mental alienation with maniacal 

 excitement, Dr. C. L. Eobertson says, tinct. digit., in doses of 

 ss., is a specific, calming excitement and enabling the patient to 

 pass through this stage without wear or irritation. It steadies 

 the pulse, and thus supplies the brain better with blood, and 

 obviates the tendency to effusion of serum, consequent on in- 

 fla^mmation going on in the arachnoid or pia mater. 



In delirium tremens, Mr. G. M. Jones recommended ^ss. of 

 tinct. digit, at the first dose, to be repeated if necessary in four 

 hours, and in some cases a third might be given, which did not 

 exceed 5ii. It failed to produce sleep in only three cases out 

 of 70, in 67 it was the only remedy used, and 66 recovered, 

 the fatal case having a tumour of the brain. Peacock thinks 

 this treatment especially useful in young and strong persons, 

 and where the attack has been the immediate result of spirit 

 drinking, and believes that in full doses it does not produce 

 the depression which we would expect. Carey records four 

 successful cases. 



In anasarca, especially where this depends on cardiac disease, 

 digitalis is one of our most potent remedies, especially when 

 combined with squill, which is also a cardiac poison of the 

 same class as digitalis. Withering* says it succeeds best when 

 the pulse is feeble or intermitting, the countenance pale, the 

 lips livid, the skin cold, and the swollen belly soft and fluctuat- 

 ing ; but it seldom succeeds in men of great natural strength, 

 tense fibre, warm skin, and florid complexion, or those with a 

 tight and cordy pulse. In serous dropsy, its good effects are 

 not so marked, and in encysted dropsy, it is totally useless. 

 By some the infusion is preferred to the tincture as a diuretic, 

 and it is best to give it in half -ounce doses, three times a day. 



! * Tagge and Sterenson, Proceed. Eoy. Soc, May, 18G5. 



