G---- A----, a husbandman, aged 57. Was in the year 1782 affected with
a slight, but constant pain in his breast, with difficult respiration.
His countenance was yellow; the abdomen swelled, and hard; his urine
high coloured, and in small quantity; appetite and sleep little.
Complained of frequent nausea, and of sudden profuse sweatings, which
seemed for a short time to relieve the dyspnoea.
After the exhibition of an emetic, six grains of calomel were given,
with a purge of jalap in the morning, and repeated in a few days, with
some appearance of advantage. He was then directed to take some pills
of squill, soap, and rhubarb, with a draught twice a day, consisting
of infus. amar. simp. and sal tartari. The skin soon became clearer
and the pain in his breast considerably diminished. But every other
circumstance remaining the same, and a fluctuation in the belly being
now more evident, the infusion of Digitalis as prescribed in case
third, was given in the dose of one ounce twice a day.
On the 5th day the effects were apparent, and he continued his
medicine for a fortnight without nausea, making four or five pints of
water every night, but little in the day, and gradually losing the
symptoms of his disease.
In 1784, this person had a relapse, and was again cured by similar
treatment.