39 
to blood-poisoning, the antecedents and the amount of damage done 
were hidden from view, but inferences might be drawn conversely. 
When small-pox poison was passing away through a moderate number 
of kindly pustules, and scarlet fever through a series of cuticular ex- 
foliations, and’in other fevers, when the crisis was moderate in type 
_and duration, we might infer that no great damage had been done to 
the blood, and that Nature had found a good outlet for disordered and 
' disarranged elements—the antecedents or cause of the fever. 
- But, when great mortality attended fevers, or the dangerous 
ordeal of inflammatory abscess, suppuration and ulceration had to be 
passed through before recovery, much greater damage was implied—a 
greater augmentation of the fever poison, and a greater difficulty in 
eliminating it. There could not be a shadow of a doubi that blood 
was liable +o as many accidents as the solid parts, and that inflammation 
was a struggle of Nature to set matters to rights—a struggle, which 
might be described as a more or less complete return of blood and 
blood-vessels within its area to the early stages of embryo growth. If 
an injury to a solid part were slight, no retrogression of blood-vessels 
took place ; the blood rushed to the part, but there was nothing to be 
repaired ; the injured parts recovered themselves, and there the matter 
stopped—this was simple inflammation. But if more damage had 
been done, then blood-vessels returned to the embryo state, and 
according to the gravity of the damage and the healing work to be 
done so was the need of surgical help urgent. Likewise, in trivial 
cases of blood disorder, if the morbid humour could be worked out 
without material change in the coats of the vessels, the action was 
comprehended under the term rashes, pimples, &c.,—examples of 
simple inflammation: But in graver examples of blood-poisoning, 
where blood-vessels must retrograde to satisfy the needs of the damaged 
blood, the action was comprised under other terms, all referring to 
different degrees of the physiological work designed for the cure of 
both local injuries and blood-poisoning—a physiological work which 
amply vindicated its place in Natural History, without in the least 
degree diminishing the need of the experienced superintendence of 
the physician in regulating, controlling, or diverting the various forms 
in which it appeared in blood disorders. 
Previous to the reading of Dr. Addison’s paper, a very pleasing 
