INTUMESCENTIJE. 607 



it to be especially adapted to those cases in which the cure is 

 chiefly attempted by diuretics. It is very probable that these 

 medicines can hardly be carried in any quantity to the kidneys 

 without being accompanied with a large portion of water ; and 

 the late frequent employment of the crystals of tartar has often 

 shown, that the diuretic effects of that medicine are almost only 

 remarkable when accompanied with a large quantity of water ; 

 and that without this, the diuretic effects of the medicine seldom 

 appear. 



" Even ardent spirits, if largely diluted and joined with a por- 

 tion of vegetable acid, have been found to stimulate the kidneys, 

 and to make a proper part of the ordinary drink. It was also 

 an omission amongst the diuretics not to mention the milk of 

 the non-ruminant animals, and of the other milks, their pro- 

 ducts of whey and butter-milk, especially when these are in 

 their most acid states. 



" To finish what relates to the giving of drink in dropsy, I must 

 observe, that whenever we can perceive that the quantity of 

 urine voided is equal to the quantity of drink for the same time 

 taken in, I hold it to be safe to allow as much drink as the pa- 

 tient may desire ; and have no doubt that, by such indulgence, 

 the disease may be often entirely cured. There are indeed many 

 instances of the disease being cured in this manner, as in the 

 cases given by Sir George Baker in the Medical Transactions, 

 in those quoted by Dr. Milman from several authors, and es- 

 pecially in the instances given by that ingenious author from his 

 own practice. 



" I can give none from mine; but one accidentally fell under 

 my observation. A woman labouring under an anasarca was 

 accidentally directed to drink a mineral water, and that in con- 

 siderable quantity. By this her urine was greatly increased, 

 and the anasarca was soon entirely cured. 



" From my own practice I can observe, that I always thought 

 it absurd in physicians to employ diuretics while they enjoin- 

 ed an abstinence from drink, which is almost the only means of 

 conveying these diuretics to the kidneys : so whenever I em- 

 ploy diuretics, I at the same time advise drinking freely ; and I 

 am persuaded that drinking largely has often contributed to 

 the cures I have made. M.M. 



2 



