_February_ 11th. Mr. E----, of W----, AEt. 61. Hydrothorax, ascites and
anasarca, consequences of hard drinking. He had been attended for some
time by a physician in his neighbourhood, who had treated his case
with the usual remedies, but without affording him any relief; nor
could I expect to succeed better by any other medicine than the
Digitalis. The dried leaves were not to be had; and the green ones at
this season being very uncertain in their strength, I ordered four
ounces of the roots in a pint decoction, and directed three spoonfuls
to be given every fourth hour, until it either excited nausea, or a
free discharge of urine; both these effects took place nearly at the
same time: he made a large quantity of water, the swellings subsided
very considerably, and his breath became easy. Eight days afterwards
he began upon a course of bitters and deobstruents. The dropsical
symptoms soon increased again, but he had suffered so much from the
severity of the sickness before, that he was neither willing to take,
nor I to give the same medicine again.
Perhaps this patient might have been saved, if I had been well
acquainted with the management and real doses of the medicine, which
was certainly in this instance made very much too strong; and
notwithstanding the caution to stop the further exhibition when
certain effects should take place, it seems the quantity previously
swallowed was sufficient to distress him exceedingly.