Phenomena of the Electric and Nervous Influences. 35 



their parietes with every particle of blood that passes through 

 them ; whereas, in those capillaries, where two or three glo- 

 bules can pass simultaneously, a smaller amount of neuro- 

 electric influence is required, for the globules are further re- 

 moved from the parietes of the tube, and therefore less under 

 the influence of the attraction of adhesion. 



16. Secondly. Inflammation may be considered as an in- 

 creased neuro-electric action on the capillaries, which electri- 

 fying these vessels and the blood to a higher degree than in 

 their healthy state, the adhesion is still further diminished ; in 

 those capillaries where red blood before circulated, it now flows 

 in increased quantity; and in those which only admitted lymph 

 in the healthy state, red globules now enter, as may be seen 

 in inflammation of the conjunctiva, &c. The second stage of 

 inflammation is reaction, that is, a diminished amount of neuro- 

 electric influence; the force of adhesion is now uncompensated ; 

 the red particles attach themselves to the sides of the vessels, 

 producing the state called congestion. 



17. These interesting and successive phenomena can be 

 curiously and beautifully imitated by the apparatus described 

 in section 9, especially if blood (retaining its fluidity) be used 

 instead of water; first the healthy state— a gentle electric ac- 

 tion and moderate flow of liquid ; then by an increased elec- 

 tric action, imitate the first stage of inflammation with excess- 

 ive flow of the liquid; then in the state of reaction, which is 

 a deficiency of electricity, we have a cessation of the jet of li- 

 quid, with the passage of a few drops at intervals; this imitates 

 congestion ; and it is but to transfer these successive actions to 

 the living body, and the analogy is complete. 



18. Again, what is turgescence but the result of an increased 

 neuro-electric action, which, destroying the adhesion of the 

 blood to the minute capillaries of the part, renders the force 

 of the circulation sufficient to propel the blood into the before 

 empty cavities? It can be nothing else but this, for the power 

 of the heart is constant, while turgescence is but an occasional 

 phenomenon ; neither could the heart direct an impulse to the 

 blood towards any particular part of the system ; nor do I see 

 that any theory of this peculiar action, except the one I have 

 ventured to propound, will suffice to explain it ; whereas the 

 destruction of the force of adhesion, which I have fully shown 

 to be not only possible, but most probable, is quite sufficient 

 to account for all the phenomena, and will, I trust, be found 

 a simple and satisfactory explanation. 



19. Inflammation or turgescence cannot take place without 

 a change of nervous action, and there are many proofs of these 

 phenomena being entirely dependent upon the nerves leading 



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