510 FRANCIS' CASES OF MORBID ANATOMY. 



increased. Sometimes he laboured under slight cough, and repre- 

 sented that he experienced a sense of tightness under the sternum, with 

 occasional pain extending along the anterior extremity of the ribs, in 

 the course of the attachment of the diaphragm. He also obtained but 

 little sleep ; his intellectual faculties were not impaired, and he indulged 

 strong hopes of recovery. Pills of equal parts of aloes and gamboge, 

 grains three, were ordered to be taken as occasion might require ; 

 blisters were directed to be applied to the parts more immediately the 

 seat of pain, and to be dressed with mercurial ointment, and the use of 

 demulcent drinks recommended. 



The symptoms of his disease were, in some degree, increased about 

 the commencement of January, and the affection of the thoracic 

 region more general : he continued to refer the pain not merely as 

 under the sternum, but as extending itself, and being almost constant in 

 the course of the diaphragm, and though not quite so acute as about 

 two weeks previous, yet as giving him much distress, and occasioning a 

 sensation of fulness. He was also considerably troubled with hiccup. 

 He rejected his food upon swallowing, and immediately after retching a 

 mucous excretion succeeded. Sometimes the mucous discharge was in 

 considerable quantity, and variegated in its appearance with purulent 

 matter. His restlessness at night was greater ; the energies of his 

 mind were not diminished. Though little benefit was expected from 

 any mode of treatment that could be adopted, he was now directed still 

 to continue in the application of blisters and other irritants ; to keep 

 up the peristaltic motion of the intestines by cathartics, and to take 

 opiates at bed time. He was particularly desirous of milk, which aliment 

 was ordered him. 



On the 20th of January, he stated to his medical attendants, that the 

 soreness of his chest was greatly lessened. He, however, was not in- 

 clined to take food, and when he did, it was most commonly thrown up, 



