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s at the former place, and Dr. Vivian at the latter, but without any success; and he was then told of a carpenter at Oxon. that had been cured of a Hydrops pectoris by the Foxglove root, and as he was a younger, and in other respects an healthy man, his cure, I believe, remains a perfect one.
I did not attend my brother whilst he took the medicine, and therefore I cannot speak precisely to the operation of it; but I remember, by his letters, that he was dreadfully sick and ill for several days before the secretion of urine came on, but which it did do to a great degree; relieved his breath, and greatly lessened the swelling in his legs and thighs; but the two instances I have lately seen in this part of the world, are much stronger proofs of the efficacy of it than my brother's case.
I am, &c. ROBERT CAWLEY.
N. B. Whenever I have another opportunity of giving the Foxglove, it shall be in small doses:--In which I should hope it might succeed, although it might be more slowly. If you should try it with success, I should be glad to know what mode you made use of.
Dr. Cawley's prescription.
R. Rad. Digital. purpur. siccat. et contus. [Symbol: ounce]ii.
Coque ex aq. font. [Symbol: pound]ii. ad [Symbol: pound]i. colat. liquor. adde aq. junip. comp. [Symbol: ounce]ii.
Mell. anglic [Symbol: ounce]i. m. sumat cochl. iv. omni nocte h. s. et mane.
--I have elsewhere remarked, that when the Digitalis has been properly given, and the diuretic effects produced, that an accidental over-dose bringing on sickness, has stopped the secretion of urine. In the present instance it likewise appears, that violent sickness may be excited, and continue for several days without being accompanied by a flow of urine; and it is probable that the latter circumstance did not take place, until the severity of the former abated. If Dr. Cawley had not had a constitution very retentive of life, I think he must have died from the enormous doses he took; and he probably would have died previ