74 DISSERTATION ON THE 



or depending upon a debilitated habit of body, 

 this remedy in many cases was a convenient 

 and salutary medicine. In ascites, when it 

 may be considered as a disease of debility, 

 that is, when it does not arise from general 

 plethora of the system and fulness of the 

 blood vessels,* the alcoholic tincture may be 

 safely recommended as an excellent tonic ; and 

 it is worthy of remark, that in as much as it pos- 

 sesses, to a considerable degree, in addition to 

 its tonic effects, the properties of a divu-etic, it 

 may be the more advantageously employed 

 in cases of this kind. 



* This discrimination between the different kinds of drop- 

 sy necessarily leads to the most important practical applica- 

 tion. The eupatorium as a tonic cannot but be pernicious 

 in diseases depending upon a general fulness of the habit. 

 And that dropsy depends, in a majority of cases, upon this 

 cause, is confirmed by the experience of all who have en- 

 jo}ed opportunities of observation in this disease. In- 

 deed, there is as good reason for considering dropsies iu 

 their active and passive stage, as there i§^ for dividing 

 inflammation into acute and chronic. MS. Notes on Ho-* 

 sack's Lectures. 



