Disputationis medicae de hydrope theses inaugurales LXV

before we approach the special cure, which should vary somewhat according to the diverse species of dropsy: namely, the drying and extraction of superfluities, and then the opening of the pores of the body and skin. For nothing harms dropsical patients so much as the restriction of the passages, as is stated in Haly's Practice, in the proper chapter.

53. According to Galen's decree, the cure is reduced to three aims or intentions: namely, that we heal the ailment of the viscus, that we apply those things which dissolve humidities and flatulence, and that we provide diuretics.

54. Therefore, Ascites abdominal dropsy is to be cured by the evacuation of water, which is contrary to the whole nature of the body's substance; Tympanites windy dropsy by the resolution of windiness; and Anasarca generalized dropsy by the drawing out of the troubling phlegm.

55. Of the purgative remedies, the lighter ones are safer, especially if they strengthen the parts at the same time with a peculiar power, such as Aloe and Rhubarb—the former friendly to the stomach, the latter to the liver—and those which are called hydragoga water-drawing because they move waters, such as Agaric, the juice of the Iris root, and the bark and juice from the fruit of the Danewort and Elder. But the stronger ones among these are less safe, which are not to be used unless the greatest necessity urges it, such as convolvulus, spurge-laurel, Mezereon, elaterium, colocynth, Euphorbium, hellebore, and the like, to which we also add Antimony, which in our age is accustomed to be used too rashly by any unskilled person in any disease whatsoever, even without the cause being known.

56. And in the use of all these and similar things, respect should always be had not so much for the cause and symptoms of the disease as for the patient's strength, age, time, and other factors enumerated above.

57. However, it is also beneficial both before and after these purgations to use openers at certain intervals, which will resolve obstructions and lead the serous