St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1906-04-14
S
Home Health
i Club
D DAVID d. REEDER, n. D., n. 4
La Porte, Ind.

~
->>~~>~>~>~-~-,-~~-~~
DRoPsY.
Many club members have expressed
the desire that lecture be given on
the subject of dropsy. The demand
has at last become so peremptory that
l herewith give the subject attention.
The fact of the matter is that what is
commonly termed dropsy is not often,
If ever. a distinct disease, but is
rather symptom, or after erect,
which occurs as the result OF other
diseased conditions. AS such 1t has
been discussed in several foregoing
articles; still, have no objection to
giving lecture under the title itself
In considering those things which
may rightly be classed under this title
it must be remembered that there Is
waste continually occurring in the hui
man system. No movement OF the
body, no matter whether great or
small, voluntary or Involuntary, takes
place without certain amount OF the
substance of the body being changed
into what is termed waste-that is,
matter from all vitality has been con-
sumed. For example, deep breath OF
good, pure air is inhaled and comes in
contact with the lungs, vitalizing the
blood. The air is then exhaled. Quite
a change has occurred since 1t was
taken into the lungs. The life-glvlng
part has been retained, and entirely
another substance is substituted, and
In this new state is expelled. The car
bonic acid, as 1t is called, is eliminated,
the oxygen being the part which has
been retained. But the carbonlc acid
gas is only one form in which the i'm
purities of the body are removed, and
passed into the surrounding atmos-
phere.
When this used-up material is
thrown off in large quantities the vital
process is continuing strongly; but
when it is removed only in small
quantities that process is correspond
ingly diminished. ~
There is great deal OF moisture
eliminated from the system by exhala-
ton. Waste or used-up material Is
naturally Of this character as can be
proved by breathing on the cold sur
face of a window pane, when the
watery substance is condensed, and
trickles down in tiny streams.
Where the vital process is being car
ried on vigorously this watery vapor IS
abundant; if, however, that process is
rather sluggish, the vapor is present
in smaller quantity. That is, in the
one instance waste is carried OF rap
idly, while in the other it is eliminated
but slowly. 4@#
It is probably best to first take up
cases in which the amount breathed in
Is very small. Substance requiring to
be removed, in such cases, is allowed
to accumulate, which cannot be if
health is to be maintained. Thus far
the subject of dropsy has been con-
sidered only in connection with the
lungs.
If the air inhaled is damp and insult
ficiently oxygenated the quantity of
worthless matter Is naturally very
large; and even from this source that
waste is likely to accumulate. Then,
at the same time, the amount expelled
by exhalation is very small; therefore
It will be the unavoidable consequence
that waste will accumulate in the sys-
tenn This, however, is not the most
form 0f Grnncv
The first thing to be considered is
the lungs and to ascertain whether
that most important factor, the breath,
is being dealt with fairly. Is the air
breathed dry and fresh or is it damp
and largely deoxygenated? Perhaps
excessive moisture is taken in, and a
smaller quantity of waste than should
be expelled. This waste and moisture
Is undoubtedly retained, and when it
is, lodges, as is certain to be the case
somewhere. and II not eliminated by
other organs than the lungs, it will
certainly produce dropsy In some form.
That which is Of next Importance in
bringing ON this disease is the insensi-
BILE perspiration There is a much
greater amount of effete matter elm
mated from the body when every part
is in good health than would be
imagined. a. 9
But supposing 1t does not pass on
through the lungs, as breath, or by
Precipitation, sensible or sinsensible?
Then it seeks the only remaining out
let, the kidneys, in a condensed state,
causing these organs to be overloaded
and, as consequence, injured. In
cases where the lungs fail to carry OF
the waste matter as they should, it is
frequently thrown of by profuse night
sweats, which are very weakening in
their effect.
In cases where there are no sweat
ings or other adequate outlet for the
used-up material that should pass. of
In insensible perspiral4on and exhala-
ton, that waste condenses and at
tempts to discover an avenue of e.
cape in the form of water 1t il. the
time when the kidneys demand atten-
ton. If they have been given wise
consideration, however, it Immediately
leads to their relief by promoting ac-
tivity in the lungs and increasing ELI
animation Dy the skin.
1t frequently happens that some
short-sighted practitioner working on
the effect Of q dropsical case makes his
attack directly on the kidneys them
selves. which, Of course, are unable to
perform the extra amount Of work
which has been imposed on them. He
seems to be entirely oblivious to the