_December_ 10th. Mr. L----, AEt. 35. Ascites and anasarca, the
consequence of very intemperate living. After trying squill and other
medicines to no purpose, I directed a decoction of the Fol. Digital.
recent. six drams to a pint; an eighth part to be taken every fourth
hour. This made him sick, and produced a copious flow of urine, but
not enough to remove all the dropsical symptoms. After a fortnight a
stronger decoction was ordered, and, upon a third trial, as the winter
advanced, it became necessary to use four ounces to the pint
decoction; and thus he got free from all his complaints.
In _October_ 1777, in consequence of having pursued his intemperate
mode of living, his dropsy returned, accompanied by evident marks of
diseased viscera. A decoction of two drams of Fol. Digital. siccat. to
a pint, once more removed the dropsy. He took a wine glass full thrice
a day.
In _January_ 1778, I was desired to visit him again. I found he had
gone on in his usual intemperate life, his countenance jaundiced, and
the dropsy coming on apace. After giving some deobstruent medicines, I
again directed the Digitalis, which again emptied the water; but he
did not survive many weeks.
1777.