182 CHAPTER 19. 



4th. As a means of exciting the absorbents to greater activity in the 

 removal of newly-formed deposits. 



372. Of inflammation artificially induced as supplemental to reparative 



action. 



All parts of the body are formed from the blood ; the blood is the sus- 

 taining and repairing element of the vital frame. From it are drawn the 

 materials needed for the daily sustenance of the frame. From it in 

 cases of injury an increased quantity of reparative material is required 

 to be drawn for the repair of the injured part. 



This condition is known as inflammation. 



But it often happens that the inflammatory action, though violent, 

 perhaps over-violent at first, becomes slack or subsides before the process 

 of repair is completed. 



In such cases it will be necessary to apply Stimulants or Vesicants 

 according to the requirements of each case, to maintain or re-excite the 

 inflammatoiy action needed to complete the process of repair. 



This want is especially apt to be felt in parts of low organisation, i. e. 

 not endued with much nervous power, or many blood-vessels, such as 

 tendons, ligaments, bones, &c. 



Artificial inflammation for the purpose of repair must never be induced 

 until the original inflammation has comi^letely subsided, and the parts 

 have become cool. 



373. Of inflammation as a stimulant to parts deficient in vital energy. 



Inflammation artificially induced is often needed to rouse to new and 

 healthier action parts which, even though highly organised, have become 

 through disease deficient in vital energy ; for instance, the healing pro- 

 cess in some ulcerative diseases is of so sluggish and languid a nature, 

 that in many cases it is best treated by exciting a mild degree of inflam- 

 mation (hyperaemia) in the surrounding parts. 



Again, it may be sometimes beneficial to bring more blood to parts, 

 which though not diseased, are deficient in vital energy. For instance, 

 if the crust of the foot be weak, much advantage often results from ex- 

 citing, by means of an irritant, hypersemia in the coronary substance 

 from which the hoof is secreted. 



Furthermore, inflammation artificially induced has often a valuable 

 effect in rousing to a new and healthier action, not merely the part to 

 which it is immediately applied, but also the neighbouring structures. 



374. External stimulation for the relief of in fiammation in internal organs. 



In cases where the inflammatory action in internal organs is excessive, 

 *'. e. beyond the amount required for the purposes of repair, we can only 

 act on the neighbouring parts, and we must endeavour by mild irritants, 

 more properly called stimulants, to rouse them to increased action ; and 

 by their increased action relieve the more important parts unduly 

 affected. 



