Lexicon:Digitalis (Maturin's Medicine)
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Revision as of 12:14, 11 November 2007
| Term: | digitalis |
|---|---|
| References: | Desolation Island, page 106 Treason's Harbour, page 259 |
| Meaning: | Medicine derived from the foxglove plant. It was discovered by William Withering, an English physician and botanist (1741-99) to cure oedema or 'dropsy' which is severe congestive heart failure. It is in use today for a variety of heart ailments, although now extracts such as digoxin rather than the plant extract are used, since it is easier to dose than the extract is. |
Notes:
See also, Lexicon:Digitalis (Guide for the Perplexed).
Additional information
Maturin's Medicine — This article is based on information from Maturin's Medicine, compiled and edited by Kerry Webb, with the help of a number of contributors.
