cx BOTANIC PHYSICIAN. 
_ “When the dropsical collection is large, and it is expected that it 
will collect again, after an evacuation, the tube may be suffered to re- 
main tightly corked and secured against the entrance of the air, for 
a few days, and the water drawn off as it collects. 
~. Dropsical swellings of the ovaria exhibit nearly the same appear- 
ances with bag dropsies of any other kind: though it sometimes 
attains to an enormous size, and is filled with folds or lattices. Thie 
disease of the ovaria comes on more gradually than other dropsies, 
and does not appear to injure the constitution so much, the water 
not being in contact with the intestines The propriety of drawing 
off the contents by tapping, is equally as obvious in this as any other 
shape of the disease. ae 
_ The serum being all drawn off, and the opening dressed in the 
manner before mentioned, the bandage must still be continued suffi- 
eently tight for preventing these distress{ul feelings which the sud- 
den discharge of it would otherwise be sure to induce: and there is _ 
- even reason to think that the support which the bandage affords to 
1e weakened parts, may have some effect in preventing a return 
of the disease ; but when, notwithstanding this, and of such inter 
nal remedies as are employed, the water is found again to collect, 
the operation requires to be repeated whenever the swelling be 
comes large. x 
__ Dropsy is, perhaps, the most frequent variety of tumor to which 
the abdomen is liable ; but in some instances, instead of water, tus — 
mors of the abdomen are found to contain air, constituting a disease, 
termed tympanites. 
The effect produced by this upon the breathing, is nearly the same 
as what ensues from collections of water; but the swelling itselfis 
much more tense, and affords to the touch and pressure nearly the 
Same sensation as is received from a bladder filled with air, “Ina e. 
great proportion of cases of tympanites, the air after death is found — 
in the intestines ; which, in some instances, have been inflated to a 
most enormous size. This I suppose to proceed from the intestines 
losing their tone: but there is another variety of the disease, in 
which the air is diffused in the eayity of the belly, in a similar mat 
ner to water in the dropsy ; this however seldom happens, and takes 
place from a hole in the intestines, by which the air escapes“ _ 
In either of the above cases, the remedies for flatulency are to be — 
used; these failing, tapping must be resorted to, so soon as the life 
ofthe patient becomes endangered. 
This may be done in the'same manner as direeted for the dropsy ; 
taking care to make the incision of a smaller size, and to employ 
pressure in the same guarded manner as when the tumor is form 
by water ; for it is equally necessary. 4 d oo 
After the operation, whether in dropsy or tympanites, jt may be 
well to rub the abdomen from time to time with astringent spiritous 
applications. This cannot be attempted, however, for two or three 
days, as the bandage must not be removed ;, but this being elapsed, — 
the bandage may be removed daily, for fifteen or twenty minutes, for 
the purpose of rubbing the abdomen with the above applications, café 
being taken to renew the bandage as soon as the friction is over: sae 
