INFLAMMATION. 17[ 



bowels, there are special characteristic symptoms which mark each dis- 

 ease. These special symptoms will be noticed hereafter under the heads 

 of those diseases. 



350. Sthenic and Asthenic types of inflammation. 



One more feature, and it is a very important feature in inflammatory 

 attacks, yet remains to be considered. 



The attack may be of a " sthenic " or of an " asthenic " type. (^Otvoc, 

 strength. 'AaOtvog, want of strength, weakness.) This will depend partly 

 on the cause, but mainly on the constitution of the patient. The inflam- 

 mation will probably be of the sthenic type when it affects a vigorous 

 anmial ; whilst it will probably be asthenic if the patient is of weakly 

 constitution. Sthenic inflammation cannot be produced in a veiy weakly 

 animal by any degree of nervous exaltation ; but the asthenic tvpe may 

 be generated in any animal by causes, such as bad food, malaria, &c., 

 which lower the system. 



The sthenic type is indicated by a quickened, full, and not easily com- 

 pressible pulse. There is also in general thirst. If an important in- 

 ternal organ is attacked, the appetite is usually lost from the first, the 

 urine is scanty and high coloured, and the feeces are hard and knobby. 

 But when the inflammation attacks even important structures remote 

 from the vital organs, the appetite is often for some time less affected. 

 In both cases there is restlessness and discomfort. The skin is hot and 

 dry. The respiration is quickened, and the breath is hotter than usual. 



Sthenic inflammation may also exist with a full and veiy slow pulse. 

 In such cases it indicates an affection. of the brain. The appetite often 

 remains for some time, and occasionally the patient continues to eat in 

 a half-somnolent state. 



In attacks on internal organs the duration of the sthenic stage is often 

 very brief, — after which the disease runs into the asthenic type. The 

 fact has a very important bearing on the treatment to be adopted in 

 such cases. On the other hand, when inflammation of a sthenic type 

 attacks organs, such as the laminae, remote from the more important 

 organs, the type may remain unaltered for a length of time. 



In the asthenic disease all the vital powers are from the first greatly 

 depressed. The case assumes what is technically called a " low " type. 

 The pulse is soft and compressible, weak and quick, and the volume of 

 blood flowing through the arteries is comparatively small. The nervous 

 power of the heart is prostrated, and it is unable properly to propel the 

 blood through the system by strong, well-defined rhythms. The patient 

 IS weak and downcast. The appetite is impaired, and the animal gradu- 

 ally cares less and less for his food, but it is not completelv lost from the 

 first as m the sthenic attack. 



Fever may be said to be present in sthenic inflammation, when the 

 pulse, m addition to beinnr quick, full, and not easily compressible, is 

 also bounding ; and similarly in the asthenic attack, when, in addition 

 to bemg soft, compressible, quick, and weak, the pulse becomes venj 



k 



