DROPSY. 207 



tuation is still to be perceived. Continue medicine, with a half-grain 

 only of calomel. July 17 th. The medicine has been regularly given, 

 and the water of the abdomen has rapidly disappeared, until a fortnight 

 ago : since that time it has been once more filling. The medicine was 

 ordered to be repeated. August 6th. The medicine has once more pro- 

 duced its proper effect, and the fluid has disappeared. On the 16^, how- 

 ever, the fluctuation was again too plainly felt, and the owner determined 

 to have nothing more to do with the case. The animal was never brought 

 again, nor could I trace it. That dog might have been saved if the owner 

 had done it justice. 



As soon as dropsy appears to be established, proper medicines must be 

 resorted to. Foxglove, nitre, and ginger should be first tried in the pro- 

 portional doses of one, ten, and eight grains, given morning and night. 

 If this does not succeed, iodine from half-a-grain to a grain may be given 

 morning and night, and a weak solution of iodine rubbed on the belly. 



This being ineffectual, recourse may be had to tapping, taking care 

 that the trocar is not plunged sufficiently deep to wound the intestines. 

 The place for the operation is directly on the linea alba, or middle line of 

 the belly, and about midway between the pubis and the navel. The whole 

 of the intestinal fluid may be suffered to escape. A bandage should then 

 be applied round the belly, and retained there a week or more. 



Mr. Elaine very properly states, that the difference between fatness and 

 dropsy is, that the belly hangs pendulous in dropsy, while the back bone 

 stands up, and the hips are protruded through the skin ; while the hair is 

 rough, and the feeling of the coat is peculiarly harsh. It may be dis- 

 tinguished from pregnancy by the teats enlarging, in the latter case, as 

 gestation advances, and the young ones may occasionally be felt to move. 

 In addition to this it may be stated, that the presence of water is readily 

 and unerringly detected. If the right hand is laid on one side of the belly, 

 and the other side is gently struck with the left hand, an undulating 

 motion will be readily perceived. 



In old dogs, dropsy, under the title of " anasarca," is an unfrequent but 

 occasional accompaniment of ascites. If pressure is made on any parti- 

 cular parts, they yield and continue depressed for a longer or shorter 

 period of time, and slowly and by degrees regain their natural form. The 

 skin is dry and distended, and with no natural action ; the circulation is 

 languid and small, the muscular powers are diminished, the animal is un- 

 quiet, the thirst is great, the tongue is pale, the appetite diminished, and 

 the limbs are swelled. The best mode of treatment is the infliction of 

 some very small punctures in the distended skin, and the application of 

 gentle friction. The majority of cases of this kind are usually fatal, and 

 so is almost every case of encysted dropsy. 



A dog had cough in February, 1825. Various medicines were admi- 

 nistered, and at length the cough almost suddenly ceased, and evident 

 ascites appeared. The thirst was insatiable, the dog would not touch food, 

 and he was unable to lie down more than two minutes at a time. Digitalis, 

 cream of tartar, and hydrarg. submur. were given on the 9th April. 

 On the 13th he was much worse, and apparently dying. He had been un- 

 able to rise for the last twelve hours, and lay panting. I punctured 

 the abdomen, and four quarts of fluid were evacuated. I4tk. The pant- 

 ing continues. The dog will not eat, but he can lie down in any pos- 

 ture. 15th. The panting is diminished, the appetite is returning, and 



