rituous
liquors; but I suspect that there is another cause of anasarca, which
originates from the brain; and which is more certainly fatal than that,
which originates from a diseased liver. These patients, where the anasarca
originates from, or commences in, the brain, have not other symptoms of
diseased liver; have less difficulty of breathing at the beginning; and
hold themselves more upright in their chair, and in walking. In this kind
of dropsy I suspect the digitalis has less or no effect; as it particularly
increases the absorption from the lungs.

17. _Obesitas._ Corpulency may be called an anasarca or dropsy of fat,
since it must be owing to an analogous cause; that is, to the deficient
absorption of fat compared to the quantity secreted into the cells which
contain it. See Class II. 1. 1. 4.

The method of getting free from too much fat without any injury to the
constitution, consists, first, in putting on a proper bandage on the belly,
so that it can be tightened or relaxed with ease, as a tightish under
waistcoat, with a double row of buttons. This is to compress the bowels and
increase their absorption, and it thus removes one principal cause of
corpulency, which is the looseness of the skin. Secondly, he should omit
one entire meal, as supper; by this long abstinence from food the absorbent
system will act on the mucus and fat with greater energy. Thirdly, he
should drink as little as he can with ease to his sensations; since, if the
absorbents of the stomach and bowels supply the blood with much, or perhaps
too much, aqueous fluid, the absorbents of the cellular membrane will act
with less energy. Fourthly, he should use much salt or salted meat, which
will increase the perspiration and make him thirsty; and if he bears this
thirst, the absorption of his fat will be greatly increased, as appears in
fevers and dropsies with thirst; this I believe to be more efficacious than
soap. Fifthly, he may use aerated alcaline water for his drink, which may
be supposed to render the fat more fluid,--or he may take soap in large
quantities, which will be decomposed in the stomach. Sixthly, short rest,
and constant exercise.

18. _Splenis tumor._ Swellings of the spleen, or in its vicinity, are
frequently perceived by the hand in intermittents, which are called
Ague-cakes, and seem owing to a deficiency of absorption in the affected
part.

Mr. Y----, a young man about twenty-five years of age, who lived
intemperatel