_July_ 16th. Mr. B----, of W----, AEt. 31. After a tertian ague of 12
months continuation, suffered great indisposition for 10 months more.
He chiefly complained of great straitness and pain in the
hypochondriac region, very short breath, swelled legs, want of
appetite. He had been under the care of some very sensible
practitioners, but his complaints increased, and he determined to come
to Birmingham. I found him supported upright in his chair, by pillows,
every attempt to lean back or stoop forward giving him the sensation
of instantaneous suffocation. He said he had not been in bed for many
weeks. His countenance was sunk and pale; his lips livid; his belly,
thighs and legs very greatly swollen; hands and feet cold, the nails
almost black, pulse 160 tremulous beats in a minute, but the pulsation
in the carolid arteries was such as to be visible to the eye, and to
shake his head so that he could not hold it still. His thirst was very
great, his urine small in quantity, and he was disposed to purge. I
immediately ordered a spoonful of the infusum Digitalis every six
hours, with a small quantity of laudanum, to prevent its running off
by stool, and decoction of leontodon taraxacum to allay his thirst.
The next day he began to make water freely, and could allow of being
put into bed, but was raised high with pillows. Omit the infusion.
That night he parted with six quarts of water, and the next night
could lie down and slept comfortably. _July_ 21st. he took a mild
mercurial bolus. On the 25th. the diuretic effects of the Digitalis
having nearly ceased, he was ordered to take three grains of the pulv.
Digital. night and morning, for five days, and a draught with half an
ounce of vin. chalyb. twice a day. _August_ 15th. He took a purge of
calomel and jallap, and some swelling still remaining in his legs, the
Digitalis infusion was repeated. The water having been thus entirely
evacuated, he was ordered saline draughts with acetum scilliticum and
pills of salt of steel and extract of gentian. About a month after
this, he returned home perfectly well.