AND ANIMAL LIFE. 459 



year in which the affection occurs. From want 

 of these considerations, medicines of few virtues 

 have occasionally been praised as specifics, and 

 others deserving of this character have been 

 thought to be perfectly harmless. 



DLX. Although inflammation or conges- 

 tion may be the cause, in the greater number of 

 cases, of serous effusions, yet I am disposed to 

 think that these, independently of obstacles to 

 the free circulation of blood, are occasionally the 

 consequence of debility, without this being cha- 

 racterized by either of the above conditions. 

 This opinion is supported by MASON GOOD ; but 

 the authority of this physician, in regard to phy- 

 siological or pathological subjects, cannot be con- 

 sidered great. Debility generally induces con- 

 gestion in those tissues of the body that exhibit 

 a dropsical diathesis. 



DLXI. Other substances besides those which 

 are employed as emetics, such as digitalis, squills, 

 and tobacco, are frequently used, and with good 

 effect, in the different kinds of dropsies. These me- 

 dicines have one common tendency, viz. to produce 

 nausea, and consequently to act powerfully on 

 the sanguiferous system. If the diseases, in these 

 cases, be the result of an inflammatory action, 

 the changes in the distribution and qualities of 

 the blood will tend to destroy this condition ; and 

 in proportion as this is accomplished, the capil- 

 lary vessels will return to their normal state. 



