SECT. II. CHAP. V. Of an Anasarca.
NOw two kinds of Dropsies, viz. Ascites and Tympanie (according to common reckoning) being finisht, although the third, to wit an Anasarca (for that it is an affection rather of the whole body, than of the nether Belly) ap∣pertains not properly to this place, notwithstanding the Pathologie thereof having some affiance with the former, we think sit to deliver here also its Cure in short. An Anasarca is described after this manner, That it is a white soft Tumour of the whole out∣ward Body, or of some of its parts, yielding to the touch, and leaving a dent upon compression, proceeding from a watery humour extravasated, and accumulated as well within the interspaces of the Muscles, as within the pores of the flesh and skin, yea of the Glan∣dules and Membranes.
It differs from an Ascites as to its outward form and appearance, yet not as to its morbific matter, which being the same in both distempers, as it is heaped within the greater or lesser hollownesses, it gains divers Appellations of the Dis∣ease.
The watery humour procuring an Anasarca, doth proceed altogether or for the most part from the blood; for it being continually produced within the mass of blood by the fault and defect of sanguification, it is poured out in greater abundance from the extremities of the Arteries, than can be received, or brought back by the Veins, or the Lymphaducts, or can be discharged by the Reins or pores of the skin, and other vents of the serous Juice.
From these it follows, that the material cause of this Disease is a watery humour, and the efficient is blood, which engenders waters and deposits them in the places affected. We will exactly weigh the reasons of either of them, and the manner of becoming and effecting it, and first we will treat of the efficient Cause of an Ana∣sarca.
1. The affection of the Blood, or rather the Hydropical brood, consists in these two things, to wit, First by reason of a failure or fault of sanguification, it doth not rightly assimilate the nutritious Juice perpetually infused into its mass, but suffers it to degenerate into a watery humour: Then secondly by reason of the too loose mix∣ture thereof, it doth not retain that humour, so degenerated, so long within its consistence, untill it might be discharg'd through fit Emunctories or Emissaries, but lets it out every where near to the ends of the Arteries, into the inter-spaces of the Vessels, and there leaves it. Either of these vices of the Blood we will consider a little more.
In the first place as to the former, for the most part it is confessed by all, that the Blood it self and not the Heart or Liver sanguifies, by what of late is plainly understood concerning the functions of these parts; yet by what means the Blood assimilates Chyle infused to it self, and converts it into fresh blood, to be bestowed to so many and diverse sorts of uses, doth not easily lie manifest to us. But what some affirm, that it is made only by the exact comminution and commixtion of particles, and for that cause the particles of either kinde being confused together, they think, that within the