1 "TO 



1/ b 



Is very often preceded by a cough ; in other instances 

 nothing is observed but a raveiious appetite ; and the 

 ^og, though he eats tliis additional quantity, yet 

 wastes in f^esh. Gradually, however, he begins to 

 swell in the belly, which grows round, hard, and 

 shining. The breathing becomes quick ; he drinks 

 much ; and though in the early stages he may 

 eat, yet, as the disease advances, his appetite fails, 

 i^nd at last he becomes sufl'ocated from the pressure 

 the water makes onihe diaphragm, or membrane that 

 parts the lungs from th.e bowe!s. 



This disease never, that I am aware of, admits of 

 a natural cure ; nor does it mucii ofter.er admit of a 

 cure by operation or medicine. I have drawn olT 

 the water by tapping in many instances, but in all 

 they filled again. In some I have repeated the 

 Cj.eration ; but the eflect has been the same, though 

 all the usual n'leans of tonics and diuretics have l>€£n 

 intervened. 



Diuretics sometimes seem useful in the very €arly 

 stages ; from the later ones none, I believe, have re 

 covered. I have used cream of tartar v»iih benefit, and 

 also the foxglove ; but I have found most activity 

 from calomel, antimony, and fox glove, in union. 



Dropsy may be distisiguished from fat by the par- 

 ticular tumour that the belly forms in dropsy hang- 

 ing down, M'hile the back bone sticks up, and the 

 hips start through the skin. The hair likewise stares, 

 and the coat is peculiarly harsh. It may be distin- 

 guislied from being in pup by the teats, ^^'hich ahvajs 

 enlarge as the belly enlarges w^en in pup; but 

 more particularly may it be cistinguished by the un- 

 dulatiou of liic water in the belly in dropsy, whereas 



