_April_ 6th. Mr. B----, AEt. 63. For some years back had complained of
being asthmatical, and was not without suspicion of diseased viscera.
The last winter he had been mostly confined to his house; became
dropsical, lost his appetite, and his skin and eyes turned yellow. By
the use of medicines of the deobstruent class he became less
discoloured, and the hardness about his stomach seemed to yield; but
the ascites and anasarcous symptoms increased so as to oppress his
breathing exceedingly. Alkaline salts, and other diuretics failing of
their effects, I ordered him to take an infus. of Digitalis. It
operated so powerfully that it became necessary to support him with
cordials and blisters, but it freed him from the dropsy, and his
breath became quite easy. He then took soap, rhubarb, tartar of
vitriol, and steel, and gradually attained a good state of health,
which he still continues to enjoy.