ee it is easily curable; and 
worst stages, a cure is not te be despaired of. When me 
comes on suddenly, and the patient is young and strong, th 
reason to hope for a cure, especially if the medicine be gi ae 
early. But if the patient be old, has.Jed an irregular life, or if there 
be reason to suspect the liver, lungs, ovaria, or any of the viscera 
are unsound or diseased, there is great reason to fear that the conse- 
quences will prove fatal. Abscesses, livid spots on the thighs, the: 
body emaciated, the countenance pale, and a cadaverous aspect, are 
harbingers of death. ‘ 
When there is not strength enough in the. a to 
i of ese iinee ‘there i is ——_ mentees 
nting their collection for the foture: To this 
end conduce esthartics, diuretics, detergents, emetics, diaphoreties, 
and (perhaps the sooner the better) tapping ; after ‘these, tonics, 
stomachies, iron, and astringents. 
He must abstain as much as possible from all drink, especially 
weak and watery liquors, and must quench his thirst with soup 
whey, or acids, as juice of lemons, oranges, sorrel, elixir ¥: ; 
such like. His aliment ought to. be dry, of 
retic quality, as toasted bread, the flesh of 
mals, roasted ; pungent and aromatic vegetables; 
onions, cresses, horse-radish, smellage, &c. He 
biscuit dipped in a little wine or brandy ; this is m 
ing, but tends to quench thirst. Some have becah A 
Cniediennd-haee total abstinence from all liquids ; this, pees a 
not always advisable. 
Exercise is of the greatest importance in the dropsy. If a patient 
be able to walk, dig, ‘Tide or the like, he ought to continue these ex- 
ercises as long as hecan. His bed ought to be hard, and his a 
ments dry and warm. In a word, every method should be taken to 
promote the perspiration, and brace the solids. . For this purpose it 
will likewise be proper to rub the patient’s body two or tame times 
a day with hard cloth, or a flesh brush. ‘Si a 
In the treatment of the dropsy, we should first eesti statiner 
th disease be an original one, or symptomatic of some other; as by 
rel ving | the cause we shall often be enabled to remove the effect 
is perform a cure. For example, if a dropsy shall have 
sequence of intemperance, exposure to moist air, pro- 
fuse bleeding, or, if it has proceeded from long continued agues, ob- 
structions in the belly, orchest viscera, &c., the removal of these will 
be the first indications of a cure. The next will be, to evacuate the : 
serous fluid already collected; and to strengthen the Bienes; andteis ge 
store the tone of the constitution generally. ee 
- 
‘Mepictxe.—If the patient be young, his constitution good, por 
the disease has come on suddenly, it may generally be removed 
emetics, as lobelia with bayberry, given with but little 
urges ; as gamboge, in small nauseating doses ; 
y Seinen, will beng away immense 
