Part 14 (1/2)

This disease consists in the acc.u.mulation of fluid in a cavity of the body, as the abdomen or belly, the chest, and ventricles of the brain, or in the cellular membrane under the skin. As the treatment of the several forms of dropsy requires that the same indications shall be fulfilled,--viz., to equalize the circulation, invite action to the surface, promote absorption, and invigorate the general system,--so it matters but little whether the effusion takes place under the skin, producing anasarca, or within the chest or abdomen. The popular treatment, which comprehends blood-letting, physicking, and the use of powerful diuretics, has proved notoriously unsuccessful. Blood-letting is charged as one of the direct causes of dropsy: how then can it be expected that a system that will produce this form of disease can ever cure it? In reference to physicking, if the bowels are forced to remove the excess of fluids in a short time, they become much exhausted, lose their tone, and do not recover their healthy power for some time. Dr.

Curtis says, ”May we not give diuretics and drastic cathartics in dropsy? I answer, if you do, and carry off the fluids of the body in those directions, as you sometimes may, you have not always removed the cause of the disease, which was the closing of the surface, or stoppage of some natural secretion, while you have rendered the patient liable to other forms of disease, quite as much to be dreaded as the dropsy which was exchanged for it.” Mild diuretic medicines may, however, be given, provided attention he paid at the same time to the lungs and external surface. The kidneys, lungs, and external surface const.i.tute the great outlets through which the excess of fluids finds egress; and if one of these functions be excited to dislodge an acc.u.mulation of fluid, without the cooperation of the rest, the excessive action is sure to injure the organ; hence it is an injurious practice, and ought to be rejected.

_Causes._--Dropsy will occasionally be produced by the sudden stopping of any evacuation; for example, if a diarrhoea be checked too suddenly, it frequently results in dropsy of the belly. In pleurisy, and when blood-letting has been practised to any extent, dropsy of the chest will be the consequence. Exposure, poor diet, diseases of the liver and spleen, want of exercise, and poisonous medicines are among the general causes of dropsy.

_Treatment._--It is a law of the animal economy that all fluids are determined to those surfaces from which they can most readily escape.

Now, instead of cramming down nauseous and poisonous drugs, with a view of carrying off the fluid by the kidneys, we should restore the lost function of the external exhalents, by warmth, moisture, friction, and the application of stimulating embrocations to the general surface. The following embrocation may be applied to the spine, ears, belly, and legs:--

Oil of cedar, 1 ounce.

Oil of juniper, 1 ounce.

Soft soap, 1 pound.

A portion of the above should be rubbed in twice a day.

The best medicine is the following:--

Powdered mandrake, 1 ounce.

” lobelia, 1 ounce.

Poplar bark, 2 ounces.

Lemon balm, 4 ounces.

Boiling water, 3 quarts.

Let the whole stand in a covered vessel for an hour; then strain, and add a gill of honey. Give half a pint every third hour. If the animal be in poor condition, the diet must be nouris.h.i.+ng and easy of digestion.

Flour gruel and scalded meal will be the most appropriate. A drink made by steeping cleavers, or hyssop, in boiling water may be given at discretion.

If there is not sufficient vitality in the system to equalize the circulation, (which may be known by the surface and extremities still continuing cold,) the following drink will be found efficacious:--

Hyssop tea, 2 quarts.

Powdered cayenne, (African,) 1 tea-spoonful.

” licorice, 1 ounce.

Mix. To be given at a dose, and repeated if necessary. Should inflammatory symptoms make their appearance, omit the cayenne, and subst.i.tute the same quant.i.ty of cream of tartar.

The treatment of all the different forms of dropsy is upon the plan here laid down. They are one and the same disease, only located in different parts; and from predisposing causes the fluid is sometimes found in the thorax, at others in the abdomen. Whenever costiveness occurs in dropsy, the following laxative may be given:--

Wormwood, 2 ounces.

Boiling water, 2 quarts.

Set them over the fire, and let them boil for a few moments; then add two ounces of castile soap and a gill of mola.s.ses or honey. The whole to be given at one dose.

The operation of tapping has been performed, but with very little success; for, unless the function of the skin be restored, the water will again acc.u.mulate. If, however, the disease shall be treated according to the principles here laid down, there is no good reason why the operation should not prove successful. It may be performed for dropsy of the belly in the following manner: Take a common trocar and canula, and after pinching upwards a fold of the skin, about three inches from the line, (_linea alba_,) or centre of the belly, and about seven from the udder, push the trocar through the skin, muscles, &c., into the abdominal cavity; withdraw the trocar, and the water will flow.

The operation is usually performed on the right side, taking care, however, not to wound the milk vein, or artery.

HOOVE, OR ”BLASTING.”