e understand, why in the ascites, and some other dropsies,
there is often no thirst, and no paucity of urine; in these cases the
cutaneous absorbents continue to do their office.

Some have believed, that dropsies were occasioned by the inability of the
kidneys, from having only observed the paucity of urine; and have thence
laboured much to obtain diuretic medicines; but it is daily observable,
that those who die of a total inability to make water, do not become
dropsical in consequence of it: Fernelius mentions one, who laboured under
a perfect suppression of urine during twenty days before his death, and yet
had no symptoms of dropsy. Pathol. 1. vi. c. 8. From the same idea many
physicians have restrained their patients from drinking, though their
thirst has been very urgent; and some cases have been published, where this
cruel regimen has been thought advantageous: but others of nicer
observation are of opinion, that it has always aggravated the distresses of
the patient; and though it has abated his swellings, yet by inducing a
fever it has hastened his dissolution. See Transactions of the College,
London, vol. ii. p. 235. Cases of Dropsy by Dr. G. Baker.

The cure of anasarca, so far as respects the evacuation of the accumulated
fluid, coincides with the idea of the retrograde action of the lymphatic
system. It is well known that vomits, and other drugs, which induce
sickness or nausea; at the same time that they evacuate the stomach,
produce a great absorption of the lymph accumulated in the cellular
membrane. In the operation of a vomit, not only the motions of the stomach
and duodenum become inverted, but also those of the lymphatics and
lacteals, which belong to them; whence a great quantity of chyle and lymph
is perpetually poured into the stomach and intestines, during the
operation, and evacuated by the mouth. Now at the same time, other branches
of the lymphatic system, viz. those which open on the cellular membrane,
are brought into more energetic action, by the sympathy above mentioned,
and an increase of their absorption is produced.

Hence repeated vomits, and cupreous salts, and small doses of squill or
foxglove, are so efficacious in this disease. And as drastic purges act
also by inverting the motions of the lacteals; and thence the other
branches of lymphatics are induced into more powerful natural action, by
sympathy, and drink up the fluids from all the cells of the body; and by
their anastomose