ar membrane of the lungs
is usually connected with that of the other parts of the system. As the
cells of the whole cellular membrane communicate with each other, the
mucaginous fluid, which remains in any part of it for want of due
absorption, sinks down to the most depending cells; hence the legs swell,
though the cause of the disease, the deficiency of absorption, may be in
other parts of the system. The lungs however are an exception to this,
since they are suspended in the cavity of the thorax, and have in
consequence a depending part of their own.

The anasarca of the lungs is known by the difficulty of respiration
accompanied with swelled legs, and with a very irregular pulse. This last
circumstance has generally been ascribed to a dropsy at the same time
existing in the pericardium, but is more probably owing to the difficult
passage of the blood through the lungs; because I found on dissection, in
one instance, that the most irregular pulse, which I ever attended to, was
owing to very extensive adhesions of the lungs; insomuch that one lobe
intirely adhered to the pleura; and secondly, because this kind of dropsy
of the lungs is so certainly removed for a time along with the anasarca of
the limbs by the use of digitalis.

This medicine, as well as emetic tartar, or squill, when given so as to
produce sickness, or nausea, or perhaps even without producing either in
any perceptible degree, by affecting the lymphatics of the stomach, so as
either to invert their motion, or to weaken them, increases by reverse
sympathy the action, and consequent absorbent power of these lymphatics,
which open into the cellular membrane. But as those medicines seldom
succeed in producing an absorption of those fluids, which stagnate in the
larger cavities of the body, as in the abdomen, or chest, and do generally
succeed in this difficulty of breathing with irregular pulse above
described, I conclude that it is not owing to an effusion of lymph into the
pericardium, but simply to an anasarca of the lungs.

M. M. Digitalis. See Art. V. 2. 1. Tobacco. Squill. Emetic tartar
(antimonium tartarizatum). Then Sorbentia. Chalybeates. Opium half a grain
twice a day. Raisin wine and water, or other wine and water, is preferred
to the spirit and water, which these patients have generally been
accustomed to.

The usual cause of anasarca is from a diseased liver, and hence it most
frequently attends those, who have drank much fermented or spi