208 DROPSY. 



water continues to ooze from the wound. 17 th. The wound healed on 

 the night of the 15th, and already the fluid begins to collect. The medi- 

 cine still continued. 20th. The spirits good, and strength improving; but 

 the belly is evidently filling, and matter is discharged from both the nose 

 and eyes. 26th. The swelling a little diminished, respiration easy, and 

 the dog walking comfortably about, and feeding well. May 13th. The 

 swelling, which for some days past diminished, is now again increasing ; 

 but the dog is strong and breathes easily. Medicine as before. 24th. The 

 dog is thinner, weaker, filling fast, and the thirst excessive. R Crem. 

 tart., ferri tart, sij., pulv. flor. anthemid. siiij., conser. ros. q. s. : divide in 

 bol. xii. : cap. in dies. 27th. During two days he has been unable to lie down 

 more than a minute at a time. Again tapped : fully as much fluid was 

 evacuated as before ; but there is now blood mingling with it. SOth. Much 

 relieved by the tapping, and breathes with perfect ease ; but, now that the 

 enormous belly is reduced, the dog is very thin. Bol. continued. June 8th. 

 Within the last three days the animal has filled again with extraordinary 

 rapidity. R Ferr. tart, bj., opii. gr. i, pulv. gentianae bj., cons. ros. q. s.: 

 f. bol. capiend. in dies. 13th. Is again strangely distended ; I advised, or 

 rather solicited, that it might be destroyed ; but this not being granted, I 

 once more tapped him. At least a gallon of dark-coloured fluid was 

 evacuated. 22nd. Again rapidly filling, but not losing either flesh or 

 strength. July 4th. Once more punctured, and a gallon of dark-coloured 

 fluid evacuated. 12th. Again filling and rapidly losing flesh and strength. 

 26th. Once more tapped : immediately after which he appeared to be re- 

 vived, but almost immediately began again to fill. Aug. 2nd. He had 

 eaten tolerably ; appeared to have nothing more than usual the matter with 

 him, when, being missed for an hour, he was found dead. No examination 

 was permitted. 



In 1824 a spaniel, six years old, was brought to the infirmary. It 

 had had an asthmatic cough, which had left it. It was now hollow in 

 the flanks, the belly pendulous, and an evident fluctuation of water. The 

 owner would not consent to any operation. An aloetic physic-ball, how- 

 ever, was given every fifth day, and a ball, composed of tartrate of iron, 

 digitalis, nitre, and antimonial powder, on every intermediate morning 

 and night. The water evidently accumulated ; the dog was sent for, and 

 died in the course of a week. 



There are a few medicines that may be useful in arresting the effusion 

 of the fluid ; but they too often fail in producing any considerable benefit. 

 The fox -glove is, perhaps, possessed of the greatest power, combined with 

 nitre, squills, and bitartrate of potash. At other times chamomile, squills, 

 and spirit of nitrous ether may be tried. 



The following case, treated by the administration of iodine, by Professor 

 Dick, is important : 



A black and tan coloured retriever was sent to me labouring under 

 ascites. He was tapped, and two quarts of fluid abstracted. Tonics com- 

 bined with diuretics were given, but the fluid continued to accumulate, 

 and in three weeks he was again tapped, and another two quarts drawn 

 away. The disease still went on, and a fortnight afterwards a similar 

 quantity was withdrawn. Various remedies were tried in order to check 

 the power of the disease, but without effect, and the abdomen again be- 

 came as much distended with the effused serum as before. 



He was then put under a course of iodine, which soon began to show its 



