ARTIFICIAL INFLAMMATION. 183 



When so stimulated, the blood-vessels and absorbents of the neigh- 

 bouring parts will abstract and carry off some portion of the effusion, and 

 other products of the inflammation existing in the internal organ. 



With this view, for example in inflammation of the lungs, many prac- 

 titioners apply a stimulant to the skin of the neighbouring parts. By 

 means of the stimulant the blood-vessels and absorbents of the skin are 

 roused to increased action, and absorb a part at least of the excessive 

 products of the inflammation in the internal organs. 



The plan of applying even mild irritants to the skin in cases of lung 

 disease, during the acute stage, is rapidly giving place to the system 

 of treatment by fomentations. Many veterinarians consider that the 

 irritation and nervous excitement frequently set up in a marked degree, 

 and followed by corresponding depression, renders the use of irritants 

 inadmissible in most cases of acute pulmonary disease. 



In all such cases the stimulant must be mild. We cannot act by 

 counter-irritation (see next par.). We can only stimulate the neigh- 

 bouring parts to increased and healthy energy of action. We do not 

 want to create a new disease, such as violent inflammation of the skin. 



If produced, it would paralyse for the time at least the power of the 

 blood-vessels and absorbents of the skin. We merely seek to assist 

 nature by stimulating the power of the blood-vessels and absorbents of 

 the skin to increased action. 



Again, all parts by constant irritation become exhausted and dormant. 

 Hence it is always better to apply the stimulants at intervals. In the 

 meantime the powers of nature revive, and after an interval the stimu- 

 lant may be again applied with beneficial effect. Hence in such cases 

 we employ stimulants of a somewhat mild nature. The effect produced 

 is not permanent, and is not intended to be so. The object of each 

 application is to produce a short rally in the powers of the part. 



Further, rapidity of action is of great importance in many of these 

 cases. For this reason we employ mustard, or mustard and ammonia in 

 combination, which are very rapid in their action. 



375. Counter-irritation. 



In the old days of medicine it was supposed that inflammation in im- 

 portant internal organs could be relieved by what was known as counter- 

 irritation. The idea was : 



That nature could not sustain two violent actions in neighbouring 

 parts at one and the same time that the more violent of the two would 

 exhaust the less violent. 



On this idea a strong blister was applied to a safe external part, i. e. 

 the skin, with the view of abstracting the abnormal quantity of blood, 

 which was occasioning dangerous inflammation in some neighbouring 

 important part, such as the lungs. On this idea it was supposed that in 

 inflammation of the lungs the abnormal quantity of blood in the lungs 

 could be withdrawn by the action of a counter-irritant, from those great 

 and important organs to the skin. 



