These Cases, thus liberally communicated by my friend, Dr. Jones, are
more acceptable, as they seem to contain a faithful abstract from his
notes, both of the unsuccessful as well as the successful Cases.
The following Tabular View of them will give us some Idea of
the efficacy of the Medicine.
Anasarca 7 Cases Cured 3
Relieved 1
Failed 3
Ascites 5 Cases Cured 4
Relieved 1
OEdematous leg 1 Case Cured 1
Ascites and anasarca 7 Cases Cured 4
Relieved 2
Failed 1
Asthma and dropsy 1 Case Failed 1
Hydrothorax and gout 1 Case Cured 1
----, ascites and anasarca-- 2 Cases Cured 2
A CASE of Anasarca communicated by Mr.
JONES, Surgeon, in Birmingham.
Dear SIR,
Having lately experienced the diuretic powers of the Foxglove, in a
case of anasarca; I do myself the pleasure of communicating a short
history of the treatment to you.
I am, &c.
W. JONES.
Birmingham,
May 17th, 1785.
My patient, Mrs. C----, who is in her 51st year, had the following
symptoms, viz. alternate swelling of the legs and abdomen, a little
cough, shortness of breath in a morning, thirst, weak pulse, and her
urine, which was so small in quantity as seldom to amount to half a
pint in twenty-four hours, deposited a clay-coloured sediment.
_April_ 16th, 1785, I directed the following form:
R. Fol. Digitalis siccat. [Symbol: dram]ii.
Aq. fontanae bullient. [Symbol: ounce]viii. f. infus. et cola.
Sumat cochl. larga iii. o. n. et mane.
On the 17th she had taken twice of the infusion, and though by mistake
only two tea spoonfuls for a dose, yet the quantity of urine was
increased to about a pint in the twenty-four hours. She was then
directed to take two table spoonfuls night and morning. And.
On the 18th, a degree of nausea was produced. A pint and half of urine
was made in the last twenty-four hours. During the time above
specified she had two or three stools every day. The infusion was now
omitted.
On the 19th the swelling of the legs was removed. A degree of nausea
took place in the morning, and increased so much during the day, that
she vomited up all her food and medicine. As she was very low, and
complained of want of appetite, a cordial julep was directed to be
taken occasionally, as well as red port and water, mint tea, &c. She
informed me that whatever she took generally staid about an hour
before it came up again, and that the mint tea staid longest on the
stomach. The vomiting decreased gradually, and ceased on the 22d. The
discharge of urine remained considerable during the three following
days, but its quantity was not measured.
22d. A dose of neutral saline julep was directed to be taken every
fourth hour.
On the 23d she complained of thirst, and thought the discharge of
urine not so copious as on the preceding days, therefore the saline
julep was continued every fourth hour, with the addition of thirty
drops of the following medicine:
R. Aceti scillitic. [Symbol: dram]vi.
Tinct. aromat. [Symbol: dram]ii.
Tinct. thebaic. gutt. xx. m.
The bowels have been kept open from the 19th, by the occasional use of
emollient injections.
On the 24th the legs were much swelled again; she complained of
languor and a degree of nausea. The discharge of urine increased a
little since the 23d. Her pulse was low and her tongue white. The
urine, which had been rendered clear by the infusion of Foxglove, now
deposited a whitish sediment.
On the 25th her appetite began to return, the swelling of the legs
diminished, and she thought herself much relieved. The urine was
considerable in quantity, and clear.
On the 26th she was thirsty and languid. The swelling was removed; the
quantity of urine discharged in the last twenty-four hours was about a
pint. She continued to mend from this time, and is now in good health.
A giddiness of the head, more or less remarkable at times, was
observed to follow the use of the Foxglove, and it lasted nine or ten
days.
This is the second time that I have relieved this patient by the
infusion of Foxglove. I used the same proportion of the fresh leaves
the first time as I did of the dried ones the last. The violent
vomiting which followed the use of the infusion made with the dried
leaves, did not take place with the fresh though she took near a pint
made with the same proportion of the herb fresh gathered.