ASSIMILATION AND NUTRITION. 



161 



lubricating lymph be secreted and steam forth, the natural tone and action 

 of the correspondent absorbent vessels will not be sufficient to carry off 

 the surplus ; and hence that surplus will accumulate, and dropsy ensue, 

 although the absorbent vessels of the part affected be in a state of usual 

 health and vigour : the disease depending altogether on the morbid and 

 predominant excitement of the secernents. 



But suppose the absorbent vessels of a particular cavity, in consequence 

 of cold, exhatistion from great previous exercise, or any other cause, to 

 be rendered torpid and inert, and consequently incapable of continuing 

 their accustomed measure of action : in this case dropsy will also ensue, 

 notwithstanding the corresponding secernent vessels are in a state of na- 

 tural health, and no larger portion of lymph is secreted than a state of 

 natural health demands ; for the fluid will now accumulate, from the mor- 

 bid torpitude of the absorbent system, and its inabihty to fulfil its func- 

 tion. It is hence, as everyone must perceive, a point of the utmost con- 

 sequence to determine the nature of the cause in dropsy, as, in truth, it 

 is in every other disease, before we attempt a remedy; since an error 

 upon this subject may be productive of the most serious, and indeed 

 fatal consequences. For it is Obvious that we may stimulate where we 

 ought to diminish action, or we may diminish action where we ought to 

 stimulate. 



Occasionally, however, the action is equally increased in both sets of 

 vessels ; as, for example, in inflammation of the leg or arm ; and in this 

 case there is great heat and dryness, and at the same time considerable 

 intumescence or swelling. For under this affection the mouths of the 

 secernent vessels, being more distended than in a natural state, pour forth 

 the coagulable lymph in a grosser and less attenuate form, and not unfre- 

 quently, perhaps, intermixed with some particles of red blood ; while the 

 mouths of the absorbents, though they as eagerly drink up the finer parts 

 of what is thus rapidly strained off, are incapable of carrying away with 

 equal ease those of a grosser texture ; in consequence of which these last 

 remain behind, and produce tumefaction by their accumulation. 



At times, also, we meet with an equal degree of diminished instead of 

 increased action in both these sets of vessels ; as on exposure to cold and 

 damp temperatures ; in cases of spare and coarse diet ; or of old age. 

 And the result of this double decrease of energy is dryness, as in the for- 

 mer instance, but combined with leanness and corrugation of the organs 

 that are thus affected. It is hence the bones of old people are more easily 

 broken, and the skin is harsher and more wrinkled than* in the middle 

 of life ; hence the shrivelled and squalid appearance of gipsies and beg- 

 gars ; and hence, in a considerable degree, the low and stinted stature Of 

 the Esquimaux, Laplanders, and Tongooses. 



For all the usual purposes of health and organic nutrition, the common 

 action and common degree of action evinced by these respondent systems 

 of vessels are perfectly sufficient, though not more than sufficient. It 

 may happen, however, that in consequence of severe violence from exter- 

 nal injury or internal disease, a considerable portion of an organ, as a 

 part of some of the muscles that belong to an arm or a leg, may be to- 

 tally destroyed or killed, and consequently rendered incapable of perform- 

 ing its proper function. How is nature, or, which is the same thing, the 

 remedial principle of life, to act in such circumstances ? If the dead part 

 remain, it is manifest that it must impede the living parts that surround it 

 in the execution of their appropriate office ; independently of which they 



