On the 26th _February_, 1785, Sarah Ford, aged 42, was admitted an
out-patient of the Birmingham General Hospital: she complained of
considerable pain in her chest, and great difficulty of breathing, her
face was much swelled and her thighs and legs were anasarcous. She had
extreme difficulty in making water, and with many painful efforts she
did not void more than six ounces in twenty-four hours. She had been
in this situation about six weeks, during which time she had taken
ammoniacum, olibanum, and large quantities of squills, without any
other effect than frequent sickness. Upon her commencing an Hospital
patient, the following medicine was exhibited. R. gum ammoniac
[Symbol: dram]ii. pulv. fol. Digital. purp. [Symbol: scruple]ii. sp.
lavand. comp. ut fiat pil. 40. cap. ii. nocte maneque. She continued
the use of these pills for a few days, without any sensible effect. On
the eighth day her breathing was much relieved, her legs and thighs
were not so much swelled, and in a day and a night she made five
pints of water. By the 12th day her legs and thighs were nearly
reduced to their natural size. She continued to make water in large
quantities, and had lost her pain in the thorax. To the 20th of
_March_, she made rapid advances towards health, when not a symptom of
disease remaining, she was discharged.