Dropsy
a class of diseases always of serious import, though not often, perhaps, directly fatal. Dropsy is rather a symptom than a disease; it consists of the effusion of watery fluid from the blood into the skin and subjacent tex- DRUG DROP-WORT tures, or into the cavities of the body. vised for the restoration of the appar- When the effusion is chiefly in the super-ently drowned. ficial parts, the dropsy is called ana- When the effusion is chiefly in the super- ently drowned. That of Dr. Sylvester, ficial parts, the dropsy is called anasarca (ana, upon, sarx, the flesh); when it is in the abdomen, it is termed ascites; when in the space around the lungs, Dropsy most commonly depends on disease of the heart or kidneys; in cases neys; in cases of ascites, the liver and fault. The treatment of dropsy is chiefly by diuretics and other remedies, which remove the fluid from the textures by unloading the blood of its excess of serum. Mechanical means are also frequently used to relieve the patient of the fluid in the case of the cavities of the body, tapping; in the either free incisions, or small tubes inserted through the skin.
DROP-WORT (from the small tubers on the fibrous roots), Spiræ filipendula, natural order Rosaceæ , a British plant of the same genus as queen-of-the-meadow, found in dry pastures. The hemlock drop-wort, or water drop-wort, is Enanthe fistulōsa. DROSERACEÆ, sundews, an order of hypogynous exogens, alliance Berberhypogynous exogens, alliance Berberales. It consists of delicate herbaceous plants, often covered with glands. Found all over the world.