S.H.1825

CLINICAL REPORT

ON

DROPSIES;

WITH

OBSERVATIONS

EXPLANATORY OF

THEIR PATHOLOGY AND THERAPEUTICS:

WITH

AN APPENDIX

ON THE

THEORY AND TREATMENT

OF

ORGANIC DISEASE IN GENERAL.

BY ROBERT VENABLES,

BACHELOR IN MEDICINE, AND LICENTIATE IN PHYSIC OF THE UNIVERSITY
OF OXFORD, PHYSICIAN TO THE HENLEY DISPENSARY, AND

CONSULTING PHYSICIAN TO THE POOR-HOUSE.

̓Αγαθὴ δὲ διδάσκαλος ἡ πείρη.-Aretaeus.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR THOMAS AND GEORGE UNDERWOOD,

32, FLEET STREET.

1824.

743

LONDON:

PRINTED BY J. MOYES, GREVILLE STREET.

ΤΟ

H. P. SPERLING, ESQ.

PRESIDENT;

THE REV. GEORGE SCOBELL, D. D.

RECTOR OF HENLEY;

THE VICE-PRESIDENTS AND SUBSCRIBERS

TO THE

HENLEY DISPENSARY:

AS AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE NUMEROUS ADVANTAGES

WHICH THEIR LIBERAL SUPPORT OF THIS

INSTITUTION HAS AFFORDED IN CULTIVATING A KNOWLEDGE

OF THE IMPORTANT DISEASES WHICH FORM THE

SPECIAL OBJECTS OF CONSIDERATION IN

THE FOLLOWING PAGES:

THIS WORK

IS MOST RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED,

BY THEIR OBEDIENT

HUMBLE SERVANT,

THE AUTHOR.

ERRATA.

Page 12, line 8, dele "gr."

24, 11, place the semicolon after "size.”

27, last line but one, for "thorax," read" thoracic."
31, note, for "obvious," read "

65,

cogent.

line 3, for "immersing," read "to immerse." 116, 5th line from bottom, for "rolling," read "by rolling." 234, note, line 2, for "lead," read "lard."

PREFACE.

WHEN I first determined to publish the result of my experience in the treatment of dropsies, I merely intended to have submitted the clinical history of some of the more important cases, with a view to establish the principles which I have adopted. The first impression of this work, and which was completed, ready for delivery to the publishers, on the day of the fire at Mr. Moyes's establishment, was totally destroyed by that unfortunate occurrence. By this delay, I have had an opportunity of adding several interesting cases, which have occurred since the time of first putting it to press.

I believe the view taken of the theory of dropsy is in some degree novel; and, as far as I am acquainted, no author has as yet professed to cure dropsies without the aid of diuretics. I certainly do not mean to advance this fact as a principle to be adopted in practice; but I think no one can read the

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