20
ingly I proposed the Digitalis to be tried; adding, that I sometimes had found it to succeed when other, even the most judicious methods, had failed. Dr. Darwin very politely, acceded immediately to my proposition, and, as he had never seen it given, left the preparation and the dose to my direction. We therefore prescribed as follows:
R. Fol. Digital. purp. recent. [Symbol: ounce]iv. coque ex Aq. fontan. puræ [Symbol: pound]iss ad [Symbol: pound]i. et cola. R. Decoct. Digital. [Symbol: ounce]iss. Aq. Nuc. Moschat. [Symbol: dram]ii. M. fiat. haust. 2dis horis sumend.
The patient took five of these draughts, which made her very sick, and acted very powerfully upon the kidneys, for within the first twenty-four hours she made upwards of eight quarts of water. The sense of fulness and oppression across her stomach was greatly diminished, her breath was eased, her pulse became more full and more regular, and the swellings of her legs subsided.
26th. Our patient being thus snatched from impending destruction, Dr. Darwin proposed to give her a decoction of pareira brava and guiacum shavings, with pills of myrrh and white vitriol; and, if costive, a pill with calomel and aloes. To these propositions I gave a ready assent.
30th. This day Dr. Darwin saw her, and directed a continuation of the medicines last prescribed.
August 1st. I found the patient perfectly free from every appearance of dropsy, her breath quite easy, her appetite much improved, but still very weak. Having some suspicion of a diseased liver, I directed pills of soap, rhubarb, tartar of vitriol, and calomel to be taken twice a day, with a neutral saline draught.
9th. We visited our patient together, and repeated the draughts directed on the 26th of June, with the addition of tincture of bark, and also ordered pills of aloes, guiacum, and sal martis to be taken if costive.
September 10th. From this time the management of the case fell entirely under my direction, and perceivi