ABNORMAL FORMS OF THE NUTRITIVE PROCESS. 605 



comparatively little importance to this, and to seek for the essential character of 

 the process elsewhere. The researches of Addison, Williams, Barry, Gulli- 

 ver, Andral, and others, all seem to point to the following conclusions: 1. 

 That there is a peculiar afflux or determination of the White Corpuscles of 

 the Blood towards the inflamed part. 2. That the total amount of these cor- 

 puscles in the circulating blood undergoes a great increase. 3. That the 

 quantity of Fibrine in the Blood augments, in proportion to the extent and 

 intensity of the Inflammation ; and this, even when it was previously, from 

 the influence of some other morbid condition, below the usual standard. 

 With its quantity, its plasticity, or tendency to organization, also increases in 

 a healthy subject. Now when these facts are compared together, and are 

 connected with those formerly adduced, in regard to the probable function 

 of the W^hite Corpuscles of the blood, they lead almost irresistibly to. the con- 

 clusion, that the process of Inflammation essentially consists in an undue 

 stagnation of these corpuscles in the vessels of the part, an excessive multi- 

 plication of them by the ordinary process of generation, and a consequent 

 over production of Fibrine. By these changes, and by the results which fol- 

 low them, Inflammation may be distinguished from the various forms of Hy- 

 peraemia and Congestion. To the results, then, we shall next direct our at- 

 tention. 



803. It may be inferred from various phenomena, that whilst the forma- 

 tive power of the Blood is increased in Inflammation, that of the Tissues is 

 diminished. Certainly this is the case in regard to the system at large, when 

 febrile irritation has been established; for, notwithstanding the increased Plas- 

 ticity of the Blood, we see the body wasting, instead of increasing in vigour. 

 And it may be inferred also, in regard to the tissues of the part affected, 

 from the tendency to Atrophy and Disintegration which they exhibit ; and 

 which is greater (leading even to the death of whole parts) in proportion as 

 the inflammation is more intense, and as the tendency to the deposit of new 

 products is the more decided. That a Stagnation of Blood takes place in 

 the vessels of the inflamed part, is another general fact, which throws some 

 light upon the nature of the process ; for this stagnation is obviously favour- 

 able to the transudation of the fluid Plasma of the blood, through the walls 

 of the vessels, into the surrounding tissue, or upon a neighbouring surface. 

 This deposition of the Fibrinous element, possessing a high degree of plasti- 

 city, and capable of spontaneously passing into simple forms of tissue (which 

 may be gradually replaced by higher forms, when penetrated by vessels from 

 the surrounding parts), may be regarded as the first characteristic result of 

 Inflammation. It is by the deposition, and subsequent organization, of plas- 

 tic matter in the substance of organs, that their tissues become consolidated ; 

 and by its deposition and subsequent organization upon their free surfaces, 

 that false membranes and adhesions are formed. It appears probable, from 

 the recent inquiries of Mr. Robinson,* that this deposition may be attributed 

 to physical causes. It is well known, that simple Congestion will occasion 

 transudation of the serous portion of the Blood ; and if the return of the 

 Blood by the veins of a part be completely prevented, a greater or less pro- 

 portion of fibrine also may be poured forth. Now when the quantity of Fi- 

 brine in the blood is greatly augmented, and the firmness of the walls of the 

 vessels in the inflamed part is diminished by the alterations taking place in 

 their tissue, it is easy to understand that the disposition to the effusion of Fi- 

 brine will be much increased. Sometimes the Fibrine is diluted with a large 

 quantity of Serum ; and is poured into a cavity (as that of a serous sac) in 

 the form of a liquid, which afterwards separates into clot and serum. 



* Medico-Chirurgical Transactions, vol. xxvi. p. 51. 

 51* 



