SECT. XXIX. 5. 2. ABSORBENTS. 261 



to lie down, does not the extravafated fluid comprefs the upper 

 parts of the bronchia, and totally preclude the accefs of air to 

 every part of the lungs ; whilft in the perpendicular attitude the 

 inferiour parts of the lungs only are comprefied ? Does not fome- 

 thing fimilar to this occur in the anafarca of the lungs, when 

 the difeafe is very great, and thus prevent thofe patients alfo 

 from lying down ? 



7. As a principal branch of the fourth cervical nerve of the 

 left fide, after having joined a branch of the third and of the fec- 

 ond cervical nerves, defcending between the fubclavian vein and 

 artery, is received in a groove formed for it in the pericardium, 

 and is obliged to make a confiderable turn outwards to go over 

 the prominent part of it where the point of the heart is lodged, 

 in its courfe to the diaphragm ; and as the other phrenic nerve 

 of the right fide has a itraight courle to the diaphragm ; and as 

 many other coniiderable branches of this fourth pair of cervical 

 nerves are fpread on the arms , does not a pain in the left arm 

 diftinguifh a difeafe of the pericardium, as in the angina pefto- 

 ris, or in the dropfy of the pericardium ? and does not a pain 

 or weaknefs in both arms diftinguifh the dropfy of the thorax ? 



8. Do not the dropfies of the thorax and pericardium fre- 

 quently exift together, and thus add to the uncertainty and fa- 

 tality of the difeafe. 



9. Might not the foxglove be ferviceable in hydrocephalus in- 

 ternus, in hydrocele, and in white fwellings of the joints ? 



VI. Of cold Sweats. 



THERE have been hiftories given of chronical immoderate 

 fweatings, which bear fome analogy to the diabetes. Dr. Willis 

 mentions a lady then living, whofe fweats were for many years 

 fo profufe, that all her bed-clothes were not only moiftened, 

 but deluged with them every night ; and that may ounces, and 

 fometimes pints, of this fweat, were received in veflels properly 

 placed, as it trickled down her body. He adds, that (he had 

 great thirft, had taken many medicines, and fubmitted to various 

 rules of life, and changes of climate, but dill continued to have 

 thefe immoderate fweats. Pharmac. ration, de fudore anglico. 



Dr. Willis has alfo obferved, that the fudor anglicanus which 

 appeared in England, in 1483, and continued till 1551, was in 

 fome refpee^s fimilar to the diabetes ; and as Dr. Caius, who 

 Jaw this difeafe, mentions the vifcidity as well as the quantity 

 of thefe fweats, and adds, that the extremities were often cold, 

 when the internal parts were burnt up with heat and third, 

 with great and fpeedy emaciation and debility j there is great 



reafon 



