DIETETIC AND CONSTITUTIONAL DISEASES. 67 



of potassa). Sudorifics (hot room ; warm clothing ; rugs wrung 

 out of boihng water closely applied to the skin and covered 

 with dry ; bags of dry grain, bran, or sand ; rubbing with hot 

 smoothing-irons over a thin covering; hot air or steam baths \ 

 aconite; acetate of ammonia; guarana, etc.), are in the highest 

 degree beneficial. Some agents, like propylamine and muriate 

 of iron, have been very serviceable in certain hands. Local 

 treatment consists in the application of warmth, etc., as above 

 indicated, and also blisters (strong aqua ammonia, and olive 

 oil) which may be applied several times a day, and the inflam- 

 mation followed up as it recedes from structure to structure. 



ACUTE ANASARCA. PURPURA HiEMORRHAGICA. 



The affection to be described here is altogether different in 

 its nature from the dropsies which result from obstruction of 

 veins, in phlebitis, or because of pressure by a diseased struc- 

 ture, as also froiji those dependent on suppression of the secre- 

 tion of urine, on heart-disease or a watery state of the blood 

 with deficiency of blood globules. It is not at all inflammatory 

 nor of the nature of malignant anthrax as is generally assumed. 

 It is exceedingly common after influenza and other affections of 

 the respiratory organs, in ill-ventilated stables where animals 

 are compelled to use re -breathed air, and in very open, cold 

 barns where they are liable to be chilled after being heated at 

 work. Sudden excessive lowering of temperature or exposure 

 to cold rain or wind storms, especially when hot and perspiring, 

 are efiicient causes by reason of the sudden check to the secre- 

 tions of the skin. The disease is much more frequent under 

 the extreme vicissitudes of temperature of the Northern States 

 than in the more equable climate of the British Isles. 



Symptoms. — The disease is manifested abruptly by appeai- 

 ance of tense, painful, rounded, or diffuse swellings on the nose, 

 lips, face, neck, inner sides of the limbs, belly, or indeed any- 

 where over the body. These tend to enlarge, to run together, 



