Botanic Remedies 153 



Matthew Baillie combination never improved upon. 

 The same can be used in ordinary cardiac edema, 

 or caffeine may be given with the digitalis. In 

 cardiac weakness in febrile diseases, digitalis rarely 

 is of value, and may do harm; but a possible ex- 

 ception is in the later stages of lobar 'pneumonia. 

 In complete heart block digitalis is nearly always 

 indicated. 



Dyspnea of cardiac origin is successfully met with 

 digitalis, as may also be met dyspnea honifibrosis of 

 the lung, of course with other appropriate medica- 

 tion. 



In valvular disease, especially with the pulse over 

 80 per minute, with weak contraction, dilatation 

 and anasarca, digitalis is exceedingly useful, more 

 especially in mitral disease. Digitalis is especially 

 indicated in auricular fibrillation, which is very 

 common in mitral cases. 



In chronic myocarditis and fibroid degenerations 

 the drug should be given with care. Aortic insuffi- 

 ciency is another disease in which it is useful only if 

 carefully watched. Keep these patients in bed while 

 giving full digitalis dosage. The presence or absence 

 of auricular fibrillation is a good guide. 



Paroxysmal tachycardia is not a disease respond- 

 ing well to treatment. Usually the intravenous 

 administration of strophanthin gives better results 

 than does digitalis, but some cases respond fairly 

 well to digitalis. Bradycardia is so often due to 

 underlying causes requiring mercury or the sal- 

 icylates that the use of digitalis is of secondary 

 interest, though it may be demanded. 



Digitalis is useless in cases of recent inflamma- 

 tion of the heart, as from acute rheumatic fever, 



