Symptoms.--The earliest symptom may be increased frequency in passing urine, especially at night. Soon some urine is retained in the bladder, and this may increase so much that only an ounce or two can be passed spontaneously, although the bladder contains one pint or more. The stream of urine is feeble, and will drop perpendicularly towards the feet of the patient. In some cases an inflammation of the prostate and bladder is set up, and then the symptoms felt are very distressing. There is an almost constant desire to pass urine; there is much pain and straining with it; a slight bleeding may follow and night rest is broken; the general strength fails from the continual suffering; the urine becomes foul, smells like ammonia, and is reduced in quantity; inflammation of the kidneys develops also; general poisoning occurs; and the patient dies of uraemia and in a "coma" condition. Treatment. Preventive.--The patient should avoid taking cold in this disease. Light and easily digested diet is necessary. The bowels must be kept regular. Alcohol of any kind should not be used. The bladder should be emptied at regular intervals. Some patients keep a catheter and "draw" their own urine. Unless the patient takes great care, the bladder and urethra will be irritated and perhaps infected through neglect of cleanliness. Medicines are not very useful in severe cases. Operation is the only reliable cure especially when some urine is always retained. URINARY PASSAGE. Mother's Remedy.--1. Dandelion Root Will Clean.--"A decoction made of the sliced root of dandelion in white wine is very effectual for cleansing and healing inward ulcers in the urinary passage. If the fresh root cannot be obtained, buy extract of dandelion and give two teaspoonfuls in water once in two or three hours as the case requires. It also acts on the liver, gall and spleen." [KIDNEY AND BLADDER 165] DROPSY.--Dropsy should be regarded as a symptom, which may arise from many causes, such as heart disease, lung disease or kidney disease, or it may depend upon obstruction to the normal flow of blood and lymph through the vessels and tissues. From Heart Disease.--In heart disease dropsy is due to a weak heart. The heart is unable to supply the arteries with enough blood to maintain the normal pressure, or to damming up of blood in the venous system as the result of imperfect emptying of the heart cavities. In kidney trouble the dropsy depends more on the lack of proper nourishing processes in the capillary walls and upon changes in the blood and blood pressure. If the kidneys are diseased, they may not be able to eliminate the proper amount of liquids which accumulate and finally escape into the tissues. Liver troubles cause dropsy by producing pressure upon the large blood-vessels going to the liver, and consequently the fluid is generally confined to the lower limbs and abdomen.