_July_ 22d. Mr. F----, AEt. 48. A strong man, of a florid complexion,
in consequence of intemperance became dropsical, with symptoms of
diseased viscera, great dyspnoea, a very troublesome cough, and
total loss of appetite. He took mild mercurials, pills of soap,
rhubarb, and tartar of vitriol, with soluble tartar and dulcified
spirits of nitre in barley water. After a reasonable trial of this
plan, he took squill every six hours, and a solution of assafetida and
gum ammoniac, to ease his breathing: finding no relief, I gave him
chrystals of tartar with ginger; but his remaining health and strength
daily declined, and he was not at all benefited by the medicines. I
was averse to the use of Digitalis in this case, judging from what I
had seen in similar instances of tense fibre, that it would not act as
a diuretic. I therefore once more directed squill, with decoction of
seneka and sal sodae; but it was inefficacious. His strength being much
broken down, I then ordered gum ammoniac, with small doses of opium,
and infusum amarum, continuing the squill at intervals. At length I
was urged to give the Digitalis, and considering the case as
desperate, I agreed to do it. The event was as I expected; no increase
in the urine took place; and the medicine being still continued, his
pulse became slow, and he apparently sunk under its sedative effects.
He was neither purged nor vomited; and had the Digitalis either been
omitted altogether, or suspended upon its first effects upon the
pulse being observed, he might perhaps have existed a week longer.