TREATMENT OF INFLAMMATION. 185 



interesting results. At present, the object which 

 seems chiefly to engage the attention of pathologists 

 is the determination of the order in which these 

 changes occur, and of the nature of the minute 

 structural peculiarities accompanying each. But is 

 it not possible, as it is most undoubtedly desirable, 

 to attain that higher and more beneficial knowledge, 

 by means of which we may be enabled to refer the 

 production of each one of these morbid effects to its 

 own peculiar determining causes, and thus, to a cer- 

 tain extent, perhaps ultimately acquire the power of 

 regulating, in each case of unsubdued inflammation, 

 the nature of its ultimate termination ? 



Having thus endeavoured to demonstrate the 

 pathological condition which essentially constitutes 

 inflammation, and to explain the production of its 

 immediate effects, I shall reserve some remarks on 

 the influence of these views upon its treatment 

 until the subject of determination of blood has been 

 fully examined. It will be seen that I consider the 

 mechanism and forces operating in the production of 

 the immediate effects of inflammation to be identical 

 with those which I previously pointed out as causing 

 nutritive effusion. The only difference between the 

 healthy and the morbid process is in the extent of 

 the effusing surface and the intensity of the expelling 

 pressure ; and, as the consequence of these changes, 

 an increase in the quantity of blood-plasma exuded. 

 Hence my views on this point are substantially 

 identical with those of Dr. Bennett and the majority 

 of pathologists. But the phenomena which they 

 regard as the effect of an unknown vital power, I 



