_February_ 2d. I was desired by the late learned and ingenious Dr.
Groome, to visit Miss S----, a young lady in the last state of
emaciation from a dropsy. Every probable means to relieve her had been
attempted by Dr. Groome, but to no purpose; and she had undergone the
operation of the paracentesis repeatedly. The Doctor knew, he said,
that I had cured many cases of dropsy, by the Digitalis, after other
more usual methods had been attempted without success, and he wished
this lady to try that medicine under my direction; after examining the
patient, and enquiring into the history of the disease, I was
satisfied that the dropsy was encysted, and that no medicine could
avail. The Digitalis, however, was directed, and she took it, but
without advantage. She had determined not to be tapped again, and
neither persuasion, nor distress from the distension, could prevail
upon her: I at length proposed to make an opening into the sac, by
means of a caustic, which was done under the judicious management of
Mr. Wainwright, surgeon, at Dudley. The water was evacuated without
any accident, and the patient afterwards let it out herself from time
to time as the pressure of it became troublesome, until she died at
length perfectly exhausted.
_Query._ Is there not a probability that this method, assisted by
bandage, might be used so as to effect a cure, in the earlier stages
of ovarium dropsy?