330 Ttie Management and Diseases of the Dog. 



halation goes on as usual, but the fluid exhaled is not taken 

 back again into the circulating vessels with sufficient facility. 

 In one case the circulation is disturbed and tumultuous • 

 in the other, it remains tranquil. 



"Although all dropsical transudations probably take 

 place through the walls of the capillary vessels, there would 

 seem to be, in the more acute forms of dropsy, an increased 

 flow of blood in the arterial channels ; while in the com- 

 pletely chronic forms there is a defect of absorption by the 

 veins. Active dropsies are sometimes spoken of as be- 

 longing to the left side of the heart, passive dropsies to the 

 right. 



" What connects all these forms of dropsy is a preter- 

 natural fulness in some part, or the whole of the hydraulic 

 machine. And this seems to be the grand key to the 

 entire pathology, as well as to the remedial management, 

 of the disease." 



Symptoms. — The first symptom generally observed is an 

 enlargement of the abdomen, but as this may arise from 

 causes other than ascites — to wit, pregnancy, tumours 

 obesity, or ovarian dropsy — it is necessary to obtain, by 

 examination more confirmatory evidence. The above- 

 mentioned writer remarks : 



"In ascites the enlargement is uniform and symmetrical, 

 in respect of the two sides of the body. When the patient 

 lies on her back the flanks bulge outwards, or sway over 

 from the weight and lateral pressure of the augmenting 

 fluid. This increased breadth of the trunk is not observ- 

 able in the case of an ovarian tumour ; nor, I may add, in 

 pregnancy." 



Blaine says : " Dropsy of the belly may be distinguished 

 from fat, by the particular tumour that the belly forms, 

 which, in dropsy, hangs down, while the backbone sticks 

 up, and the hips appear prominent through the skin ; the 

 hair stares also, and the coat is peculiarly harsh. It may 

 be distinguished from being in pup by the teats, ■ which 



