The most common causes of this affection are, organic disease of the heart, and protracted pleuritic inflammation. The symptoms are the most urgent when the patient has remained for some time in a recumbent posture. The breathing is rapid and labored, and the countenance distressed, pallid and wax-like. Shortness of breath occurs from the slightest exercise, and the pulsations of the heart are irregular. Dropsy of the heart is a frequent attendant on hydrothorax.

Treatment

The prominent remedies in the cure of dropsy are Apis-mel, Apocynum-cannabium, Arsenicum, Digitalis, China, Hellebore, Colchicum, Asparagus, Can-tharides, Hyd.potassa, Mercurius, Crotalus and Dulcamara,

Aspis-Mel

This is a most important remedy in general dropsy, but particularly in ascites and hydrothorax. The prominent symptoms are anxious respiration and sensation of fullness and constriction in the chest; fullness and tenderness of the abdomen, harsh, dry skin, diminished secretion and sometimes painful emission of urine. impaired appetite and debility.

Dose

A powder every six or twelve hours, according to the severity of the symptoms.

Apocynum-can. is a very valuable remedy, particularly in abdominal dropsy, after the use of Quinine, in intermittent fevers, in general dropsy, succeeding scarlet fever, and also in other varieties of the disease.

Dose

Three drops may be given at a dose, once in six or twelve hours. In acute cases once in three or four hours.

Arsenicum

In the different varieties of dropsy, especially when they are accompanied by an earthy or pale and greenish color of the skin; great weakness and general prostration; dryness and redness of the tongue; asthmatic sufferings, with suffocating sensation when lying on the back, coldness of extremities; great thirst; loss of appetite, tenderness of the abdomen, small secretion of urine, with frequent desire to urinate; difficult respiration; blisters or dark colored spots on different parts of the body.

Dose

A powder, or six globules; in acute cases, once in three or four hours; in the chronic form every twelve hours.

Digitalis

Scanty secretion of high-colored urine, strong pulsations of the heart, irregularity of the pulse, pale face and blue lips; vertigo, distension of the abdomen, frequent desire to urinate, stitches in the region of the heart. This remedy is strongly indicated in hy-drothorax, occasioned by disease of the heart.

Hellebore

Swelling of the face and lips; fluctuating swelling in the abdomen; great debility, nausea, piercing pains in the extremities; throbbing or compressive pain in the head; frequent desire to urinate with an almost entire suppression of the secretions.

Dose

Two drops, or twelve globules, in a tumbler of water, a tablespoonful once in from four to twelve hours.

Dulcamara

Particularly for dropsy, occasioned by suppressed perspiration, and where the skin is dry and hot, the whole body bloated, the urine small in quantity, turbid and fetid; great thirst, constipation and aggravation of symptoms at night.

Dose

Same as Hellebore.

Crotalus

General dropsy, swelling of the whole body; oppression of the chest, not permitting a recumbent position, and hydrothorax in old people.

China

Pale, sallow or sickly countenance; debility, derangement of the liver and stomach, with pain and tenderness in those organs; coldness of the surface of the body; great sensitiveness to cold, weariness of the limbs, restless nights, difficult and suffocative respiration, scanty urine. This remedy is particularly useful where the disease has been occasioned by loss of animal fluids and prostrating diseases.

Dose

Three drops in a tumbler of water, a tablespoonful once in six or twelve hours.

Diet And Regimen

These are of the utmost importance. A warm, dry and pure air is necessary. In acute dropsy the diet should be the same as in other acute diseases; in the chronic form the food should be light and nourishing, not much at a time, but taken frequently. In ascites particular attention should be paid to the di-gestive organs. The excessive thirst of which the patient complains may be gratified, provided the beverage does not interfere with the medicine. Cold water, milk, and buttermilk may be used, also diuretic drinks sometimes, such as, decoctions of parsley, asparagus, etc.