INTUMESCENTI^L. 615 



same with that of anasarca ; and when the former is joined with 

 the latter, as an effect of the same general diathesis, there can 

 be no doubt of the method of cure being the same in both. 

 Even when the hydrothorax is alone, and the disease partial, 

 from particular causes acting in the thorax only, there can 

 .hardly be any other measures employed than the general ones 

 proposed above. There is only one particular measure adapted 

 to the hydrothorax ; and that is, the drawing off the accumu- 

 lated waters by a paracentesis of the thorax. 



MDCCVIII. To what cases this operation may be most 

 properly adapted, I find it difficult to determine. That it may 

 be executed with safety, there is no doubt ; and that it has 

 been sometimes practised with success, seems to be very well 

 vouched. When the disease depends upon a general hydropic 

 diathesis, it cannot alone prove a cure, but may give a tem- 

 porary relief; and when other remedies seem to be employed 

 with advantage, the drawing off the water may very much 

 favour a complete cure. I have not, however been so fortunate 

 as to see it practised with any success ; and even where it was 

 most promising, that is, in cases of partial affection, my expec- 

 tations have been disappointed from it. 



SECT. III. OF ASCITES, OE DROPSY OF THE LOWER BELLY. 



MDCCIX. The name of Ascites is given to every collection 

 of waters causing a general swelling and distention of the lower 

 belly ; and such collections are more frequent than those which 

 happen in the thorax. 



MDCCX. The collections in the lower belly, like those of 

 the thorax, are found in different situations. Most commonly 

 they are in the sac of the peritonaeum, or general cavity of the 

 abdomen : but they often begin by sacs formed upon, and con- 

 nected with, one or other of the viscera ; and perhaps the most 

 frequent instances of this kind occur in the ovaria of females. 

 Sometimes the water of ascites is found entirely without the 

 peritonaeum, and between this and the abdominal muscles. 



MDCCXI. These collections connected with particular 

 viscera, and those formed without the peritonaeum, form that 

 disease which authors have termed the encysted dropsy, or 



