INTUME&CENTIJE. 611 



attempted with safety. After, however, the water of dropsies 

 has been very fully evacuated, and the indication is to strength- 

 en the system for preventing a relapse, cold bathing may per- 

 haps have a place. It is, at the same time, to be admitted with 

 caution ; and can scarcely be employed till the system has other- 

 wise recovered a good deal of vigour. When that indeed has 

 happened, cold bathing may be very useful in confirming and 

 completing it. 



MDCXCVI. In persons recovering from dropsy, while the 

 several means now mentioned for strengthening the system are 

 employed, it will be proper at the same time to keep constantly 

 in view the support of the watery excretions ; and consequently 

 the keeping up the perspiration by a great deal of exercise, and 

 continuing the full flow of the urinary excretions by the frequent 

 use of diuretics. 



SECT. II. OF THE HYDROTHORAX, OR DROPSY OF THE 



BREAST. 



MDCXCVII. The preternatural collection of serous fluid 

 in the thorox, to which we give the appellation of Hydrothorax, 

 occurs more frequently than has been imagined. Its presence, 

 however, is not always to be very certainly known ; and it 

 often takes place to a considerable degree before it be dis- 

 covered. 



MDCXCVIII. These coUections of watery fluids in the 

 thorax, are found in different situations. Very often the water 

 is found at the same time in both sacs of the pleura, but fre- 

 quently in one of them only. Sometimes it is found in the peri- 

 cardium alone ; but for the most part it only appears there when 

 at the same time a collection is present in one or both cavities 

 of the thorax. In some instances, the collection is found to be 

 only in that cellular texture of the lungs which surrounds the 

 bronchiae, without there being at the same time any effusion in- 

 to the cavity of the thorax. 



Pretty frequently the water collected consists chiefly of a 

 great number of hydatides in different situations ; sometimes 

 seemingly floating in the cavity, but frequently connected with 



