In case of obstruction to the circulation through this organ there may arise swelling of the legs, thighs and of the abdomen. It is one of the recognized causes of abdominal dropsy, _ascites_; of dropsy of the lower extremities, _anasarca_. Hence arise those frequent swellings of the legs, with their attendant incurable ulcers, so often met with in fat people. And when we reflect that the venous circulation is carried on by means of a vital power which has to overcome the force of gravity, causing the blood to flow from below upwards, from the feet towards the heart, we can readily understand how easily any slight obstruction in the liver may give rise to serious consequences, while on the other hand it will be manifest, that the liver being freed from its excess of fat, the venous circulation will be re-established, and those troublesome affections alluded to, therewith got rid of. However, every medical man does not see, or is not willing to see matters in this light. Many will insist that this hepatic obstruction is a chronic hepatitis, or chronic inflammation of the liver, which is to be subdued by the lancet, leeches, blue pill, Vichy water and vegetable diet. And what becomes of the patient? I know I shall always remember a circumstance which occurred in 1829. I was at that time a surgeon attached to the military hospital of the Val-de-Grâce, where Broussais, the illustrious founder of physiological medicine, was head physician. It was my duty to make the _post mortem_ examinations, to record the several abnormal conditions found to exist, and which had been the cause of death. Upon one occasion, while thus engaged, Broussais entered the amphitheatre, saying, "Bring your instruments with you, we are going to hold a _post mortem_ in the city." We went to the house. A statement was required to be put on record as to the organic lesions which had produced death in the case of a young woman, about 25 or 26 years of age, belonging to a wealthy and noble family. It was of importance to have such a document, because the mother of this young woman had died at an early age, and the family wished to be able to prove in a court of law that death had not occurred in consequence of any hereditary disease. Broussais and I entered the room where lay the body of the deceased. We met there two of the professors of the Faculty of Paris, another physician, and the usual medical attendant of the family. A few words passed in reference to the previous ailments of the deceased. The family physician, a young man imbued with the principles of Broussais, told us that he had been in attendance upon the deceased lady about a year before, for a disease other than that which had caused her death; that he had cured her by means of bleedings and leeches, and that after her recovery she had enjoyed the advantages of sea bathing; that in the illness which had just terminated fatally, he had made use of bleedings and an antiphlogistic regimen.