_August_ 16th. Mrs. A---- of S----, AEt. 78. About the middle of Summer
began to complain of short breath, great debility, and loss of
appetite. At this time there were evident marks of effusion in the
thorax, and some swelling in the legs. The advanced age, the weakness,
and other circumstances of this patient, precluded every idea of her
recovery; but something was to be attempted. Squills and other
remedies had been tried; I therefore directed pills with two or three
grains of the pulv. Digitalis to be taken every night for six nights,
and a saline draught with forty drops of acetum scillit. twice in the
day. She took but few of the draughts, seldom more than half one at a
time, for they purged her, and she disliked them. The pills she took
regularly, and with the happiest effect, for she could lie down, her
breath was very much relieved, and a degree of appetite returned.
_Sept._ 4th, some return of her symptoms demanded the further use of
diuretics. I was afraid to push the Digitalis in so hazardous a
subject, and therefore directed tinct. amara with tinct. canthar. and
pills of squill, seneka, salt of tartar and gum ammoniac. These
medicines did not at all check the progress of the disease, and on the
26th it became necessary to give the Digitalis again. The pills were
therefore repeated as before, and infus. amarum with fixed alkaly
ordered to be taken twice a day. The event was as favorable as before;
and from this time she had no considerable return of dropsy, but
languished under various nameless symptoms, until the middle or end of
November.