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transparency in the skin not obvious, and where the alteration of posture occasions but little alteration in the state of distension, the cure cannot be effected by diuretics.
Is this difficulty of cure occasioned by spissitude in the effused fluids, by want of proper communication from cell to cell, or is the disease rather caused by a morbid growth of the solids, than by an accumulation of fluid?
Is not this disease in the limbs similar to that of the viscera (§ 2)?
§ 4. Anasarcous swellings often take place in palsied limbs, in arms as well as legs; so that the swelling does not depend merely upon position.
§ 5. Is there not cause to suspect that many dropsies originate from paralytic affections of the lymphatic absorbents? And if so, is it not probable that the Digitalis, which is so effectual in removing dropsy, may also be used advantageously in some kinds of palsy?
ASCITES.
§ 6. If existing alone, (i. e.) without accompanying anasarca, is in children curable; in adults generally incurable by medicines. Tapping may be used here with better chance for success than in more complicated dropsies. Sometimes cured by vomiting.
ASCITES and ANASARCA.
§ 7. Incurable if dependant upon irremediably diseased viscera, or on a gouty constitution, so debilitated, that the gouty paroxysms no longer continue to be formed.
In every other situation the disease yields to diuretics and tonics.
ASCITES, ANASARCA, and HYDROTHORAX.
§ 8. Under this complication, though the symptoms admit of relief, the restoration of the constitution can hardly be hoped for.
ASTHMA.
§ 9. The true spasmodic asthma, a rare disease--is not relieved by Digitalis.
§ 10. In the greater part of what are called asthmatical cases, the real disease is anasarca of the lungs, and is generally to be cured by diuretics. (See § 1.) This is almost always combined with some swelling of the legs.
§ 11. T