Elements of practical medicine / by Alfred H. Carter.

  • Carter, Alfred H. (Alfred Henry), 1849-
Date:
1884
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Elements of practical medicine / by Alfred H. Carter. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    tiontotheflow of blood through the capillary system, traceable to some disturbance of that obscure relation- ship which normally exists between the blood in the capillaries, and the tissues immediately around. Such a condition more or less constantly accompanies chronic renal disease. Given increased blood-pressure, it is easy to see how the balance between the exudation and absorption of fluid in the tissues may be disturbed, and lead to a dropsical accumulation. The effects de- scribed are enhanced by a feeble and relaxed state of the vessels and still more by a poor and watery condi- tion of the blood, with deficiency of albumen. Under some such circumstances, variously combined, most dropsical effusions take their origin. Dropsy may be either local or general. Local dropsy most frequently depends upon mechanical obstruction of the veins leading from the dropsical part, as in ascites from cirrhosis of the liver, or phlegmasia dolens from plugging of the femoral vein. It occurs also as a result of inflammation, and (more rarely) of lymphatic ob- stiuctions. Getwal dropsy may be either active or passive. Active general dropsy begins abruptly, and results most commonly from acute Bright's disease, but it sometimes accompanies an acute general erythema- tous eruption on the skin, such as now and then occurs after a hearty meal of shell-fish, &c. Passive general dropsy may be due either to (i) chronic disease of the heart or lungs, or (2) renal disease, or (3) anaemia. Symi'toms. — Anasarca or general dropsy usually begins in the most dependent parts. The integuments become swollen and pit on pressure. The vitality of dropsical parts is defective, and they arc consequently liable to low forms of inflammation from slight causes. ])ropsy of internal organs and serous cavities will be considered elsewhere.
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