256 CHANGES IN DEVITALISED TISSli>. 



vitality has been impaired by inflammation or other- 

 wise, shall undergo a process of rapid and imme- 

 diately destructive liquefaction, or shall be the seat of 

 those more gradual and elaborate changes which do 

 not in themselves so directly threaten life. 



3. The temperature to which the affected tissues 

 may be exposed. 



4. The presence or absence of an investing cyst. 



5. The presence or absence of atmospheric air. 



6. The general vital condition of the body at the 

 time, as modified by the quality of the blood, age, 

 &c. 



The imperfection of our knowledge on these and 

 many other cognate questions, certainly indicates the 

 necessity for continued researches into this important 

 department of pathology ; and if the present com- 

 munication shall be found in any degree to encourage 

 or facilitate farther inquiries, my object in thus 

 troubling the Society will be fully answered. 



