232 ON THE NATUliE AND PRINCIPLES OF 



absorbing surface are materially increased. Some of 

 the chief local measures by which we endeavour to 

 aid the natural powers of absorption in the affected 

 part have been already alluded to as useful in pre- 

 venting effusion. Such are the application of cold 

 and astringents, mechanical support, by means of 

 bandaging, strapping, &c. To these may now be 

 added friction, which, however, when employed for 

 this purpose, should not be confined to the mere 

 surface of the skin. A gentle, continued, kneading 

 pressure, following the course of the venous blood, 

 is much more efficacious, and, in some forms of sub 

 cutaneous effusion, exercises a marked influence in 

 accelerating the removal of serous fluid. Blisters, 

 and various internal remedies, used for the dispersion 

 of the immediate effects of inflammation, seem to me 

 to operate rather by promoting the solution of the 

 effused and solidified fibrine than by contributing 

 any direct aid to the absorbing process. 



It is evident that any measures which tend to 

 remove the products of effusion by adding to, and 

 co-operating with, the natural powers of absorption, 

 can be successful so long only as those matters re- 

 tain a certain degree of fluidity : for the passage of 

 a mass of solid fibrine through the minute pores of 

 the capillary membrane is clearly a physical impos- 

 sibility. Now, whilst in the transparent gelatinous 

 state, which it retains for some time after its effu- 

 sion, the fibrine of the liquor sanguinis is, I believe, 

 capable of very rapid absorption. And, in support 

 of this opinion, I may mention an experiment, per- 

 formed by nu- Mime years since, in which a (juantitv 



