DROPSIES. 53 



Distemper. — (See Influenza.) ^ 



Diuretics. — A name given to those medicines which 

 cause an increased secretion from the kidneys. Example, 

 chlorate and nitrate of potassa, the Spanish fly, and 

 eupurpurin. (See Medicines.) 



Dropsies. — Every school boy is familiar with the term 

 dropsy, which means an unnatural accumulation of water 

 in the cavities of the body-chest, heart-case, belly, breast, 

 sheath, and cellular tissue of the legs. (See Debility.) 



1. When water is in the chest it is called Hydrothorax. 

 This is the immediate cause of death, in pleurisy in the 

 horse and pleura pneumonia in cattle, the animal dying 

 by sufi'ocation or asphyxia. 



2. When in the belly, it is called Ascites. 



3. When in the ceUular tissue, and confined to a portion 

 only of the body, as the leg or sheath, it is called (Edema; 

 but if the swellings are over difi*erent portions of the 

 body, it is called Anasarca. 



4. When in the heart-case or pericardium, it is called 

 dropsy of the heart. 



Causes. — Treatment of diseases by starving, or low 

 diet, bleeding, blistering, and physicking. Injury to a 

 part will be followed by watery swellings in the neigh- 

 boring parts. 



Treatment. — Blood-making food and medicines, are 

 imperatively demanded. Corn-meal mixed with bran 

 and cut hay. Grass, if it can be had. A bottle of strong 

 beef tea or soup, given daily, will be of great use. Give 

 the following medicine three times a day, either mixed 

 in the feed or poured down the mouth with a bottle : — 

 Powdered sulphate of iron, one dram ; powdered gentian 

 root, two drams; Spanish fly, two grains; mix. Friction 



