CLASS I. 2. 3. ii. OF IRRITATION. 8^ 



the bladder, during fieep. The fwelling of the ankles, which 

 frequently attends chlorofis, is another effect; of deficient action, 

 of the abforbent fyitem ; and the pale countenance is occafionecl 

 by the deficient quantity of red globules of blood, caufed by the 

 deficient quantity or acrimony of the bile, and confequent weak- 

 I nefs of the circulation. The pulfe is fo quick in fome cafes of 

 chlorofis, that, when attended with an accidental cough, it may 

 be miftaken for pulmonary confumption. This quick pulfe is 

 owing to the debility of the heart from the want of ftimulus oc- 

 cafioned by the deficiency of the quantity, and acrimony of the 

 blood. 



M. M. Steel. Bitters. Conftant moderate exercife. Fric- 

 tion with flannel all over the body and limbs night and morn- 

 ing. Rhubarb five grains, opium half a grain, every night. 

 Fle(h diet, with fmall beer, or wine and water. The difeafe 

 continues fome months, but at length fubfides by the treatment 

 above defcribed. A bath of about eighty degrees, as Buxton 

 Bath, is of fervice ; a colder bath may do great injury. 



ii. Hydrocele. Dropfy of the vagina teftis. Dropfies have 

 been divided into the encyfted and the diffufed, meaning thofe of 

 the cellular membrane, the cells of which communicate with each 

 other like a fponge, and thofe of any other cavity of the body. 

 The collections of mucous fluids in rhe various cells and cavities 

 of the body arife from the torpor of the abforbent veflels of thofe 

 parts. It is probable, that in dropfies attended with great third 

 the cutaneous abforbents become paralytic firft ; and then from 

 the great thirft, which is thus occafioned by the want of atmof- 

 pheric moifture, the abforption of the fat enfues ; as in fevers 

 attended with great thirft, the fat is quickly taken up. See Obe- 

 fitas I. 2. 3. 16. Some have believed, that the cellular and adi- 

 pofe membranes are different ones ; as no fat is ever depofited 

 in the eyelids or fcrotum, both which places are very liable to 

 be diftended with the mucilaginous fluid of the anafarca,and with 

 air in Emphyfema. Sometimes a gradual abforption of the ac- 

 cumulated fluid takes place, and the thinner parts being taken 

 up, there remains a more vifcid fluid, or alrnoft a folid in the 

 pa'rt, as in fome fwelled legs, which cannot eailly be indented by 

 the preflure of the finger, and are called fcorbutic. Sometimes 



the paralyfis of the abforbents is completely removed, and the 

 whole is again taken up into the circulation. 

 The Hydrocele is known by a tumor of the fcrotum, whick 

 is without pain, gradually produced, with fluctuation, and a de- 

 gree of pellucidity, when a candle is held behind it ; it is the 

 mod fimple incyfled dropfy, as it is not in general complicated 

 other difeafes, as afcites with fcirrhous liver, and hydro- 



cephalui 



