282 Observations upon the 
Exp. 6. One hundred and thirty-two hours 
after fracture.—The fractured ends protruded 
through the skin, denuded of external co- 
vering. The internal membrane protruded 
slightly from the canal of the bone, loose, 
unattached, and coming away readily upon 
being seized with the forceps. The soft parts 
were one extensive mass of disease; there 
was no effusion of coagulable lymph in the _ 
neighbourhood of the injury, but a copious 
secretion of thin offensive and bloody water. 
These two dissections shew an entire failure 
of actions conducive toa reunion. Disease of 
the membranes to the extent here found, al- 
ways effects the death of a portion of the 
bone ; we find no healthy effusions, the fluid 
surrounding the fracture being always such as 
isthe consequence of an ulcerated or gangre- 
nous state of the soft parts, viz. pus, or a more 
sanious and watery secretion. The denudation 
and death of a portion of the fractured bone 
acts as a source of increasing irritation produc- 
ing absorption of the soft parts, and thus fa- 
cilitating a second process of nature for per- 
fecting a cure by the protrusion of the dead 
bone through the skin, and its separation from 
the sound and healthy parts with which it is 
connected. * 
After the amputation of a limb, affections. 
