nated some time in the cells,
will coagulate over the fire; and is erroneously called water. Wherever the
seat of this disease is, (unless in the lungs or other pendent viscera) the
mucilaginous liquid above mentioned will subside to the most depending
parts of the body, as the feet and legs, when those are lower than the head
and trunk; for all these cells have communications with each other.

When the cellular absorbents are become insensible to their usual
irritations, it most frequently happens, but not always, that the cutaneous
branch of absorbents, which is strictly associated with them, suffers the
like inability. And then, as no water is absorbed from the atmosphere, the
urine is not only less diluted at the time of its secretion, and
consequently in less quantity and higher coloured: but great thirst is at
the same time induced, for as no water is absorbed from the atmosphere to
dilute the chyle and blood, the lacteals and other absorbent vessels, which
have not lost their powers, are excited into more constant or more violent
action, to supply this deficiency; whence the urine becomes still less in
quantity, and of a deeper colour, and turbid like the yolk of an egg, owing
to a greater absorption of its thinner parts. From this stronger action of
those absorbents, which still retain their irritability, the fat is also
absorbed, and the whole body becomes emaciated. This increased exertion of
some branches of the lymphatics, while others are totally or partially
paralytic, is resembled by what constantly occurs in the hemiplagia; when
the patient has lost the use of the limbs on one side, he is incessantly
moving those of the other; for the moving power, not having access to the
paralytic limbs, becomes redundant in those which are not diseased.

The paucity of urine and thirst cannot be explained from a greater quantity
of mucilaginous fluid being deposited in the cellular membrane: for though
these symptoms have continued many weeks, or even months, this collection
frequently does not amount to more than very few pints. Hence also the
difficulty of promoting copious sweats in anasarca is accounted for, as
well as the great thirst, paucity of urine, and loss of fat; since, when
the cutaneous branch of absorbents is paralytic, or nearly so, there is
already too small a quantity of aqueous fluid in the blood: nor can these
torpid cutaneous lymphatics be readily excited into retrograde motions.

Hence likewise w