In intermittent fever, the remedy has been employed by Bouillaud and others, as an antiperiodic, with asserted success; but it is, to say the least, of doubtful efficacy, and should not be confided in to the neglect of the cinchona alkaloids.

i think I have found considerable benefit from digitalis in scarlet fever, in which the extraordinary frequency of the pulse is one of the most prominent symptoms. I have not, however, used it in the cases of young children, and do not consider it applicable to the malignant form of the disease.

Considerable efficacy is claimed for it in puerperal fever. M. Temoin reports 8 cases of the disease occurring in an infirmary under his inspection, of which 3 were cured; and 6 others, attacked without and afterwards brought into the infirmary, all of which ended favourably. The pulse in these cases was from 120 to 150 in the minute. Two of Homolle's granules were given on the first day, and afterwards three or four daily; the last-mentioned dose not being exceeded. {Ann. de Thérap., 1860, p. 124.)

Active Hemorrhage. in all cases of active hemorrhage, except that from the stomach and bowels, in which its local irritating property might prove hurtful, there is an indication for the use of digitalis, when the patient is too weak to justify bleeding, and the pulse is very frequent. it may, under such circumstances, be appropriately combined with acetate of lead, or other astringents. in uterine hemorrhage, it has been found by Mr. Dickinson, of London, in full doses, to be peculiarly efficacious.

Phthisis. At one time digitalis had a high reputation in phthisis; and great success was apparently met with, in the cure of the disease, by its use. The journals teemed with favourable reports of its efficiency. it is needless to say that, with the imperfect means then existing of diagnosticating thoracic diseases, chronic catarrh and other affections of the chest were not unfrequently confounded with genuine tuberculous consumption, and that the cases cured belonged in all probability to the former category. No one now expects to cure phthisis with digitalis, or even materially to modify the diathesis upon which the deposition of tubercles depends. All that can be expected from it is to control, in some degree, the excessive frequency of the pulse characteristic of the disease, to allay nervous irritation, and to diminish night-sweats, or promote absorption, by its diuretic influence; and these effects can probably be obtained in general as well by other measures, less liable to disturb the digestive organs, which it is important to keep in as healthy a state as possible. Still, there are occasions, in the course of phthisis, in which the remedy may be advantageously resorted to as a palliative, especially to quiet the action of the heart, and favour the absorption of effused liquid, though caution is necessary to prevent the prostrating effect of over-doses.

Disease of the Heart and Arteries. Perhaps in no affection does digitalis act more happily, as a sedative, than in diseases of the heart. it is called for in these complaints, whether functional or organic, whenever the heart beats too strongly or too frequently, provided, in the latter case, the frequency is not a pure result of debility. Notice has already been taken of its use in endocarditis and pericarditis.

In hypertrophy of the heart, without valvular disease, and the pure result of cardiac irritation, it is an admirable remedy, in connection with a due amount of depletion, rest, and low diet. in this affection, the heart should be kept under its influence for a long time; the remedy being only occasionally intermitted for a few days, in order to prevent serious consequences from accumulation. A longer intermission than a week, on this account, is never necessary; and, at these times, the place of digitalis may be supplied with some other one of the nervous sedatives, especially hydrocyanic acid.

In hypertrophy, with valvular disease, and dependent upon it, the remedy is less beneficial; because the overgrowth of the muscle is usually a provision of nature, under these circumstances, to regulate the movement of the blood, disturbed by the deranged state of the valvular openings. To illustrate my meaning, I would merely adduce the instances of constriction of the aortic orifice, and imperfect closure of the mitral valves; in the former of which the left ventricle becomes hypertrophied, in order that it may compensate, by the force of the current of blood sent from it into the system, for the deficiency of its volume; while, in the latter, a similar result takes place, in order that the loss to the body at large of the portion of blood regurgitating with each ventricular contraction, may be counterbalanced by the greater capacity and vigour of the ventricle. in each of these cases, all the functions would suffer from a defective supply of blood, were it not for the hypertrophy; and whatever tends to depress the cardiac action, must just so far diminish this counteracting influence, and impair the general health. The principle, in these cases, is to employ digitalis only when the action is in excess; in other words, when the general functions suffer, in consequence of a larger supply of blood than they require for their healthful performance.

In dilatation of the heart, which is generally associated with anaemia, and in which the tissue of the heart itself is probably enfeebled by defective nutrition, the use of a sedative agent would seem to be contra-indicated; and certainly it is necessary to exercise caution in the use of digitalis in this affection. But when, as often happens in dilatation, the heart acts excessively under the irritation sent to it through the nervous centres, from the insufficiently supplied functions, and by this very excess of action is exhausted and still further weakened, digitalis may often be given with great benefit, if accompanied with chalybeates, the mineral acids, or other tonics, in order to improve the character of the blood.