396 WATEliY FARCY — EXTERNAL DROPSY, &C. 
size. The symptoms, principally those of the digestive organs, and 
sometimes the respiratory organs being affected. Swelling of the 
pupils and slight cloudiness of the cornea were the first symptoms 
that were observed. There was also engorgement of the posterior 
extremities and the penis, and loss of strength. A favourable 
termination was obtained with regard to all the patients, in despite 
of some complications, often a little serious, and taking on the ap- 
pearance of pneumonia, bronchitis, &c. The antiphlogistic treat- 
ment was resorted to, sometimes combined with small portions of 
acid. The bleeding was always moderate. 
WATERY FARCY; EXTERNAL DROPSY; 
DIFFUSE INFLAMMATION OF THE CELLULAR MEMBRANE; 
PURPURA HEMORRHAGICA. 
By W. Percivall, Esq., M.R.C.S. 
Under one or other, or all of these appellations, veterinarians 
recognize a disease which, in former times, was looked upon as farcy , 
but which scientific investigations into its nature have demonstrated 
to have no pathological relation whatever with farcy, but to be a 
disease of a totally different nature. There is nothing to shew that 
the lymphatics are organically diseased in sthenic dropsy ; and, 
from all that we know of the disorders before us, we should argue 
that neither were they functionally so. What the present state of 
medical opinion on this point is, we may gather from Dr. Cop- 
land’s Dictionary of Medicine. Under the article “ Dropsy” he 
informs us that, in reference to the pathological states of the dis- 
ease, a At present it is generally admitted that dropsy may arise 
from sub-action or sur-action — from general or local plethora, as 
well as from obstructed circulation — from deficient excretion, and 
from excessive evacuations rendering the blood thin and watery. 
The numerous changes detected in connexion with aqueous effu- 
sion, and allowed to favour both it and the accumulation of fluid, 
may be resolved into a single proposition ; viz. increased exhala- 
tion and diminished absorption, which comprises all the views pro- 
mulgated on the subject, the matter chiefly in dispute being, as to 
which of these changes is the accumulation of fluid chiefly owing. 
It has been attempted to settle the point by experiment and post- 
mortem research. But a matter purely of function — lesions so 
dependent on vital action and structural cohesion, as effusion most 
undoubtedly is in many cases, however associated or otherwise 
dependent upon organic change — cannot admit of a satisfactory 
elucidation in this manner alone.” 
