_September_ 11th. I was desired to visit Mr. L----, AEt. 63; a middle
sized man; rather thin; not habitually intemperate; found him in bed,
where he had been for three days. He was in a state of furious
insanity, and had been gradually losing his reason for ten days
before, but was not outrageous the first week; his apothecary had
given him ten grains of emetic tartar, a dram of ipecacoanha, and an
ounce of tincture of jallap, in the space of a few hours, which
scarcely made him sick, and only occasioned a stool or two; upon
enquiring into the usual state of his health, I was told that he had
been troubled with some difficulty of breathing for thirty years past,
but for the nine last years this complaint had increased, so that he
was often obliged to sit up the greater part of the night; and, for
the last year, the sense of suffocation was so great, when he lay
down, that he often sat up for a week together. His father died of an
asthma before he was fifty. A few years ago, at an election, where he
drank more than usual, his head was affected as now, but in a slighter
degree, and his asthmatic symptoms vanished; and now, notwithstanding
he has been several days in bed, he feels not the least difficulty in
breathing.
Apprehending that the insanity might be owing to the same cause which
had heretofore occasioned the asthma, and that this cause was water; I
ordered a decoction of the Fol. siccat Digital, three drams to half a
pint; three spoonfuls to be taken every third hour: the fourth dose
made him sick; the medicine was then stopped; the sickness continued
at intervals, more or less, for four days, during which time he made a
great quantity of water, and gradually became more rational. On the
fifth day his appetite began to return, and the sickness ceased, but
the flow of urine still continued.
A week afterwards I saw him again, and examined him particularly; his
head was then perfectly rational, appetite very good, breath quite
easy, permitting him to lie down in bed without inconvenience, makes
plenty of water, coughs a little, and expectorates freely. He took no
other medicine, except a little rhubarb when costive.