AND ANIMAL LIFE. 457 



DLVIII. It was the opinion of Dr CULLEX, 

 that dropsy was to be attributed either to increas- 

 ed exhalation or diminished absorption ; and this 

 view is not at all improbable. We know that 

 different processes are continually going on in 

 the system; for example, that one set of vessels is 

 employed in absorbing, and another in secreting 

 or exhaling. These facts naturally led the mind 

 to conclude, that if we increased the action of the 

 latter, or diminished that of the former, we should 

 have the same results. The reasoning is proba- 

 bly rather mathematically than physiologically 

 correct ; it certainly throws little or no light on 

 the pathology of the disease ; and unless the con- 

 tributions of others in this department had been 

 of a more definite description, our practice in 

 regard to dropsy would not have been improved. 

 As it is now ascertained that congestion or in- 

 flammation of the capillary vessels is, in the 

 greater number of instances, the cause of dropsy, 

 we are enabled to bring into operation some of 

 the most powerful means we possess for exciting 

 or depressing the powers of the system according 

 to the character of the symptoms. Depletion, 

 sudorifics, and emetics are the most efficient 

 agents we possess, when judiciously employed, for 

 removing an inordinate exhalation of serum, and 

 for re-establishing a healthy action of the secre- 

 tory and absorbent organs. If we endeavour to 

 enquire how congestion gives rise to serous accu* 



