TREATMENT OF INFLAMMATION. 127 



but follow out, not only the general principles of 

 the Baconian philosophy, but the suggestions made 

 almost on this very point by that wonderfully gifted 

 man. The gratitude and respect of posterity are, 

 however, not the less due to him who actually 

 effected the first step towards the elevation of me- 

 dicine by rendering its most important branch an 

 experimental science. 



The only experiments of Hunter which can be 

 considered as calculated to throw a direct light upon 

 the nature of inflammation, are the two following : 

 - 1st. That of freezing the ear of a rabbit ; by which 

 he proved that the vessels of an inflamed part are 

 much enlarged, contain more than their natural 

 quantity of blood, and retain that increased calibre 

 for some time after the withdrawal of the exciting 

 cause. 2ndly. That of inflaming the vagina of an 

 ass ; by means of which he discovered the beautiful 

 law, that the temperature of an inflamed part does 

 not rise above that of the central organs of the body. 

 The facts thus ascertained, and the additional experi- 

 ments which he instituted, relative to the contrac- 

 tility of the arteries, and the peculiarities of adhesive 

 union and growth, are confessedly important, original, 

 useful in enabling us to understand the manner in 



o 



which certain effects of the disease are produced, 

 and in some respects deeply interesting, as possibly 

 constituting the germs of more important, discoveries. 

 But, while freely admitting all this, I defy the most 

 zealous Hunterian to deduce from them a clear and 

 satisfactory definition of inflammation. 



The experimental observations of Thomson, 



