REPARATIVE PROCESSES. 601 



considerable amount of unorganized substance yet remains; and they maybe 

 readily separated, or torn in any direction. A vascular rete next makes its 

 appearance, in connection with the vessels of the subjacent surface; the first 

 appearance of this network is in the form of transparent arborescent streaks, 

 which push out extensions on all sides ; these encounter one another, and 

 form a complete series of capillary reticulations, the distribution of which very 

 nearly resembles that which has been seen in the villi of the intestines (Fig. 

 204). From the observations of Mr. Travers* it appears, that isolated glob- 

 ules enter these capillary tubes, and perform an oscillatory motion in them 

 for some hours, before any series of them passes into it; so that we cannot 

 regard the new channel as burrowed out by a string or file of red corpuscles, 

 pushed out from the nearest capillary by vis tergo, as some have maintained. 

 And he has further established two important facts, in the history of the Re- 

 paration of Tissues, which correspond with the observation just cited: 1. 

 That the Liquor Sanguinis first effused is not sufficiently organizable to be- 

 ccfme an entirely new and permanent tissue; although adequate both to afford 

 nutrition to the old, and to form a new tissue of temporary character : and, 

 2. That the generation of the new tissues is preceded by the collection of a 

 large number of white corpuscles, in a nearly stationary condition, in the 

 blood-vessels immediately subjacent ; and by the appearance of a large number 

 of similar cells in the newly-forming tissue ; the two together constituting 

 what Mr. T. has aptly called " the new lymph-bed of organization." The 

 views formerly advanced ( 154-159) respecting the function of the Colour- 

 less Corpuscles, are thus strikingly confirmed. This process of Reparation 

 appears to be conformable, in all essential particulars, with that which has 

 been observed in the first Development of new parts, such as the toes of the 

 larva of the Water-Ne\vt. 



796. Although many 'have doubted whetber effusions of Shod could thus 

 become organized, there seems no valid reason to think that its Fibrine would 

 comport itself in any other way, when Red particles are included in its coa- 

 gulum, than when they are absent. That large masses of extravasated Blood 

 should exhibit little or no tendency to organization, will not be considered 

 surprising ; when it is remembered that only their surface can be in that re- 

 lation with a living membrane, which has been stated to be essential to the 

 further vitalization of the effused Fibrine ( 119). It has been proved in many 

 instances, however, that Coagula of Blood completely inclosed within the body 

 possess an incipient vascularity, being capable of injection from the surface 

 beneath ( 700) ;t and there is no valid reason to deny that the thin layer of 

 Blood which remains between the lips of an incised wound, when these are 

 closely brought together, is the medium of their reunion. It is unquestionable, 

 however, that the Fibrine of an ordinary Blood-clot is less highly-elaborated, 

 and consequently less susceptible of organization, than that of the Liquor 

 Sanguinis, which is poured forth after an injury, and which has been subjected 

 to the local action that is its immediate result. 



797. To the second mode of Reparation, attention has recently been strongly 

 directed by Dr. Macartney ; and as this, too, is a strictly Physiological action, 

 and is one which the Surgeon should aim at producing, it will be here dis- 

 cussed somewhat in detail. The Surgeon has, until recently, regarded the 

 processes of Granulation and Suppuration, which are attended with much 

 local Inflammation, and with a considerable amount of Constitutional disturb- 

 ance when the surface is large, as the only means by which an open wound 



* Physiology of Inflammation and the Healing Process. 



j" For well-established cases of this sort, see communications by Mr. Dalrymple in the 

 Medico- Chirurgical Transactions, vol. xxiii.; and in Lancet, March 23, 1844. 

 51 



