A man aged 57, who had lived freely in the summer of 1784, became
affected with oedematous swelling of his legs, for which he was
advised to drink Fox Glove Tea. He took a four ounce bason of the
infusion made strong with the green leaves, every morning for four
successive days.
On the 5th he was suddenly seized with faintness and cold sweatings. I
found him with a pale countenance, complaining of weakness, and of
pain, with a sense of great heat in his stomach and bowels. The
swelling of the legs was entirely gone, he having evacuated urine in
very large quantities for the two preceding days. He was affected with
frequent diarrhoea. The pulse was very quick and small, and his
extremities cold.
A small quantity of broth was directed to be given him every half
hour, and blisters were applied to the ancles, by which his symptoms
became gradually alleviated, and he recovered perfectly in the space
of three weeks; except a relapse of the anasarca, for which the
Digitalis was afterwards successfully employed, in small doses,
without any disagreeable consequence.