Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
Rosa Anglica (Author: [unknown])

section 39

39

This is ascites:—when the lower limbs are swollen, and not the upper, accompanied by a watery sound in the belly.714 This is hyposarca:—when there is general swelling. This is tympanites:—when the belly and the navel rise up, and the stomach resounds like a tympanum, from whatsoever cause it come. Therefore it is necessary to look for some indication other than the swelling,715 such as the pulse, the urine, and pricking (?)716, pain, and oppression, and see if cold things harm, and hot things comfort; then the cause is cold: this the authors prescribe when they know not the cause of the disease.717 Therefore, give them weak things at first, that can do no great harm, if the cause be not recognised; when it is not known in the beginning, give common things that avail in every dropsy, as beforesaid.