The following case of chyliferous diabetes is extracted from some letters of Mr. Hughes, to whose unremitted care the infirmary at Stafford for many years was much indebted.  Dated October 10, 1778.

Richard Davis, aged 33, a whitesmith by trade, had drank hard by intervals; was much troubled with sweating of his hands, which incommoded him in his occupation, but which ceased on his frequently dipping them in lime.  About seven months ago he began to make large quantities of water; his legs are oedematous, his belly tense, and he complains of a rising in his throat, like the globus hystericus:  he eats twice as much as other people, drinks about fourteen pints of small beer a day, besides a pint of ale, some milk-porridge, and a bason of broth, and he makes about eighteen pints of water a day.

He tried alum, dragon’s blood, steel, blue vitriol, and cantharides in large quantities, and duly repeated, under the care of Dr. Underhill, but without any effect; except that on the day after he omitted the cantharides, he made but twelve pints of water, but on the next day this good effect ceased again.

November 21.—­He made eighteen pints of water, and he now, at Dr. Darwin’s request, took a grain of opium every four hours, and five grains of aloes at night; and had a flannel shirt given him.

22.—­Made sixteen pints. 23.—­Thirteen pints:  drinks less.

24.—­Increased the opium to a grain and quarter every four hours:  he made twelve pints.

25.—­Increased the opium to a grain and half:  he now makes ten pints; and drinks eight pints in a day.

The opium was gradually increased during the next fortnight, till he took three grains every four hours, but without any further diminution of his water.  During the use of the opium he sweat much in the nights, so as to have large drops stand on his face and all over him.  The quantity of opium was then gradually decreased, but not totally omitted, as he continued to take about a grain morning and evening.

January 17.—­He makes fourteen pints of water a day.  Dr. Underhill now directed him two scruples of common rosin triturated with as much sugar, every six hours; and three grains of opium every night.

19.—­Makes fifteen pints of water:  sweats at night.

21.—­Makes seventeen pints of water; has twitchings of his limbs in a morning, and pains of his legs:  he now takes a dram of rosin for a dose, and continues the opium.

23.—­Water more coloured, and reduced to sixteen pints, and he thinks has a brackish taste.

26.—­Water reduced to fourteen pints.

28.—­Water thirteen pints:  he continues the opium, and takes four scruples of the rosin for a dose.

February 1.—­Water twelve pints.

4.—­Water eleven pints:  twitchings less; takes five scruples for a dose.

8.—­Water ten pints:  has had many stools.

12.—­Appetite less:  purges very much.