Case VIII
W—— C——, a collier aged 58, was attacked in the spring of 1783 with a tertian ague, which he attributed to cold, by sleeping in a coal pit, and from which he recovered in a few days, except a swelling of the lower extremities, which had appeared about that time, and gradually increased for two or three months. The legs and thighs were greatly enlarged and œdematous. His belly was swelled, but no fluctuation perceptible. He made small quantities of high coloured water. The appetite bad, and pulse feeble. He had taken many medicines without relief, and was now so reduced in strength, as to sit up with difficulty. An infusion of the Digitalis was directed for him, in the proportion of one ounce of the fresh leaves to a pint of water, two ounces to be taken three times a day, until the stomach or bowels became affected. Upon the exhibition of the sixth dose, nausea supervened, and continued to oppress him at intervals for two or three days, during which he passed large quantities of pale urine. The swelling, assisted by moderate bandage rapidly diminished, and without any repetition of his medicine, at the expiration of sixteen days, he returned to his labour perfectly recovered.
Footnotes
6 R. Rad. scil. recent. sapon. castiliens. pulv. Rhei opt. aa. ℈i. ol. junip. gutt. xvi. syr. bals. q. s. f. mass. in pil. xxiv. divid.
7 Prepared in the same manner as in the former case.
8 See this account in the Introduction.
9 For reasons assigned at p. 100, I did not intend to introduce any case, occurring under my own inspection, in the course of the present year; but it may be satisfactory to continue the history of this disease, as Dr. Stokes’s narrative would otherwise be incomplete.
1785.
CASE.
Jan. 5th. Mrs. M——, Æt. 48. Hydrothorax and anasarcous legs, of eight months duration. She had taken jallap, squill, salt of tartar, and various other medicines. I found her in a very reduced state, and therefore directed only a grain and half of the Pulv. Digital. to be given night and morning. This in a few days encreased the secretion of urine, removed her difficulty of breathing, and reduced the swelling of her legs, without any disturbance to her system.
Three months afterwards, a severe attack of gout in her legs and arms, removing to her head, she died.
Dr. Stokes had an opportunity of examining the dead body, and I had the satisfaction to learn from him, that there did not appear to have been any return of the dropsy.
10 In the three last recited cases, the medicine was directed in doses quite too strong, and repeated too frequently. If Esther K—— could have survived the extreme sickness, the diuretic effects would probably have taken place, and, from her time of life, I should have expected a recovery. Wm. T—— seems to have been a bad case, and I think would not have been cured under any management. G. R—— certainly possessed a good constitution, or he must have shared the fate of the other two.