SECT. XXVIII. 2. ABSORBENTS. 235 



In this difeafe the fkin is dry from the increafed ab r orption of 

 the cutaneous lymphatics, the fat is abforbed from the increafed 

 abforption of the cellular lymphatics, the mucus of the lungs 

 is too vifcid to be eafily fpit up by the increafed abforption of 

 the thinner parts of it, the membrana fneideriana becomes dry, 

 covered with hardened mucus, and at length becomes inflamed 

 and full of apthx, and either thefe floughs, or pulmonary ulcers, 

 terminate the fcene. 



II. The immediate caufe of dropfy is the paralyfiS of fome 

 other branches of the abforbent fyftem, which are called lym- 

 phatics, and which open into the larger cavities of the body, or 

 into the cells of the cellular membrane ; whence thofe cavities 

 or cells become diftended with the fluid, which is hourly fecre- 

 ted into them for the purpofe of lubricating their furfaccs. As 

 is more fully explained in No. 5. of the next Se6tion. 



As thofe lymphatic veflels confift generally of a long neck or 

 mouth, which drinks up its appropriated fluid, and of a conglob- 

 ate gland, in which this fluid undergoes fome change, it hap- 

 pens, that fometimesthe mouth of the lymphatic, and fometimes 

 the belly or glandular part of it, becomes totally or partially par- 

 alytic. In the former cafe, where the mouths of the cutaneous 

 lymphatics become torpid or quiefcent, the fluid fecreted on the 

 fkin ceafes to be abforbed, and erodes the fkin by its faline acri- 

 mony, and produces eruptions termed herpes, the difcharge from 

 which is as fait, as the tears, which are fecreted too faft to be reab- 

 forbed, as in grief, or when the punfta lacrymalia are obftrudted, 

 and which running down the cheek redden and inflame the fkin. 



When the mouths of the lymphatics, which open on the mu- 

 cous membrane of the noftrils, become torpid, as on walking 

 into the air in a frofty morning ; the mucus, which continues 

 to be fecreted, has not its aqueous and faline part reabforbed 

 which running over the upper lip inflames it, and has a fait 

 tafte, if it falls on the tongue 



When the belly, or glandular part of one of thefe lymphatics, 

 becomes torpid, the fluid abforbed by its mouth flagnates, and 

 forms a tumour in the gland. This difeafe is called the fcrofula. 

 If thefe glands fuppurate externally, they gradually heal, as thofe 

 of the neck ; if they fuppurate without an opening on the ex- 

 ternal habit, as the mefenteric glands, a heftic fever enfues, 

 which deftroys the patient; if they fuppurate in the lungs, a 

 pulmonary confumption enfues, which is believed thus to differ 

 from that defcribed in the preceding Seftion, in refpett to its 

 feat or proximate caufe. 



It is remarkable, that matter produced by fuppuration will lie 

 concealed in the body many weeks> or even months, without pro- 

 ducing 



