i 
BOTANIC PHYSICIAN. 
: a but they must not be vena on tite there is s sufficient 
strength to assist their action. 
The diuretics should be ofthe warmest and most stimulating hii 
as fe yxgiove, broom ashes, orris root, artichoke leaves, garlics, — 
- horse-radish, &c.; any thing of a cold, relaxing: nature, is hurtful 5 — ; 
at reason, cleavers, or oil of pumpkin a is iD Progeny = 
| Is and juniper oil are serviceable. 
- After the first evacuations, if there is any prospect of “ite 
the disease without tapping, we should endeavor by all means to do 
0, by a free use of the most bracing and stimulating tonics, joined 
34 diuretics ; for this purpose I have generally made use ofthe | 
tonic tincture, or similar preparations, and with very good success. F 
Horse-radish or mustard seed, with spikenard, should be applied in — 
the form of poultices, to the feet, legs, bowels, and hands, if necessa- — 
Byes Much nes be sepected from akiesa, and they should not bam 
ii eee 
bali 
at if the belly’ is largely distended" with water; ; if the bowels hive. 
_ become water-soaked, obstinately costive, and their action destroyedgaa 
aa’ tine medicine or other means take no effect, tapping becomes 
Ve y  Themethod of performing this operation will be found 
fully described in the article on surgery. 
After the waters are drawn off in this manner, by tapping, our as 
forts should be redoubled to prevent a new collection. Bandages — 
should be drawn tightly round the abdomen, and worn continually. 
The strengthening medicines must be continued, and nothing left 
undone that may assist in the cure. If, however, the collection 
should again acquire any considerable bulk, the operation should be 
repeated, as often as necessary. Theonly ill effect to be apprehend- 
ed from tapping or scarification, is mortification, which may take 
place in extremely debilitated cases ; old ulcers, in the dropsy also 
subject the patient to a greater risk of mortification. “ 
The bowels should be kept open with clysters, if necessary. 
Many excellent remedies and compounds for the cure of this dis- 
ease will be found among the recipes, which the judgment of the 
practitioner will enable him to select. 
That dropsy is an obstinate diseasé, no one need doubt ; but that 
it should prove an incurable one, unless in a far gone case, we me 
certainly ascribe to iguorance, or neglect of the proper means. — 
have often, in the course of my experience, seen dropsies, as well as 
ether diseases, which had been condemned as incurable, by phy 
_ etans whose large pretensions seem to place them above shame, 
 eured, notwithstanding all this, by the judicious use of such reme- 
dies as may be found in this book. And it may ‘not er 
to remark, that botanic physicians, who understand 
should pay little regard to these regular 4 
generally far from being decisive, or infallible, if the proper means 
are — use of to restore. hd = Daiee. : : 
= ae. ee ate 
