_March_ 5th. I was desired to visit Mrs. H----, a very delicate woman,
who after a severe lying-in, had her legs and thighs swollen to a very
great degree; pale and semi-transparent. I found her extremely faint,
her pulse very small and slow; vomiting violently, and frequently
purging. She was attended by a gentleman who had seen me give the
Digitalis in a similar case of swelled legs after a lying-in (see Case
XXVI.) about six months before. He had not considered that this
patient was delicate, the other robust; nor had he attended to stop
the exhibition of the medicine when its effects began to take place.
The great distress of her situation was evidently owing to the
imprudent and unlimited use of the Digitalis. I was very apprehensive
for her safety; ordered her cordials and volatiles; a free supply of
wine, chamomile tea with brandy for common drink, and blisters. The
next day the situation of things was much the same, but with all this
disturbance no increased secretion of urine. The same methods were
continued; an opiate ordered at night, and liniment. volatile upon
flannel applied to the groins, as she now complained of great pain in
those parts. The third day the nausea was less urgent, the vomitings
less frequent, the pulse not so slow. Camphorated spirit, with caustic
volatile alkaly, was applied to the stomach, emulsion given for common
drink, and the same medicines repeated. From this time, the intervals
became gradually longer between the fits of vomiting, the flow of
urine increased, the swellings subsided, the appetite returned, and
she recovered perfectly.