_February_--. Mrs. M----, AEt. 45. Ascites and anasarca, but not much
otherwise diseased, and well enough to walk about the house, and see
after her family affairs. I thought this a fair case for a trial of
the Digitalis, and therefore directed a decoction of the fresh leaves,
the stock of dried ones being exhausted. About a week afterwards,
calling to see my patient, I was informed that she was dead; that the
third day after my first visit she suddenly fell down, and expired.
Upon enquiry I found she had not taken any of the medicine; for the
snow had lain so deep upon the ground, that the apothecary had not
been able to procure it. Had the medicine been given in a case
seemingly so favourable as this, and had the patient died under its
use, is it not probable that the death would have been attributed to
it?