Class I. 2. 3. 14. OF IRRITATION. So 



ienfive fponge-like fyfteifl of cells, which counsels all the folid 

 parts of the body, may have its power of abibrption impaired, 

 at the fame time that fome other part of it may 0: ill retain that 

 power, or perhaps poffefs it in an increased degree •, and as all 

 thefe ceils communicate with each other, the fluid, which abounds 

 in one part of it, can be transferred to another, and thus be re- 

 abforbed into the circulation. 



In the afeites, cream of tartar has fometimes been attended 

 with fuccefs •, a dram or two drams are given every hour in a 

 morning till it operates, and this is to be repeated for Several 

 days ; but the operation of tapping is generally applied to at lair. 

 Dr. Sims, in the Memoirs of the Medical Society of London, 

 Vol. III. has lately propofed, what he believes to be a more fuc- 

 cefsfal method of performing this Operation, by making a punc- 

 ture with a lancet in the fear of the navel, and leaving it to .dis- 

 charge itlelf gradually for feveral clays, without introducing a 

 canuia, which he thinks injurious, both on account of the too 

 fudden emifuon of the fluid, and the danger of wounding or ftim- 

 ulating the vifcera. This operation I have twice known per- 

 formed with lets inconvenience, and I believe with more benefit 

 to the patient, than the common method. 



After the patient has been tapped, fome have tried injections 

 into the cavity of the abdomen, but hitherto I believe with ill 

 event. Nor are experiments of this kind very promiiing of fuc- 

 cefs. Firfl, becauSe the patients are generally much debilitated, 

 moll frequently by Spirituous potation, and have generally a dif- 

 eafe of the liver, or of other vifcera. And Secondly, beeaufe 

 the quantity of ihflarr)rhati6ri,neceflary to prevent future Secretion 

 of mucus into the cavity of the abdomen, by uniting the perito- 

 neum with the interlines or meSentery, as happens in the cure 

 of the hydrocele, would I fuppofe generally deftroy the patient, 

 either immediately, or by the confequence of fuch adhefiorts. 



This however is not the cafe in reSpecT to the dropfy of the 

 ovarium, or in the hydrocele. 



14. Hydrops thoracis. The dropfy of the chefl commences 

 with lofs of rlelh, cold extremities, pale countenance, high col- 

 oured urine in fmall quantity, and general debility, like marry- 

 other dropfies. The patient next complains of numbriefs in the 

 arms, efpecially when elevated, with pain and difficulty of f wal- 

 lowing, and an abfolute impciTibility of lying down for a fe^v 

 minutes, or with fudden Marring from f!eep,with great difficulty 

 of breathing and palpitation of his heart. It is often confound- 

 ed with anafarca pulmonum, which fee. 



The numbnefs of the arms is probably owing more ffecfuen&t 



ly to the increafed action of the pectoral mufcles in refpiratidnj 



Vol. It. N V;.en:e. 



