REPAIR OF INJURIES TO VITAL STRUCTURES. 287 



But before answering this question, it will be as well very briefly to 

 explain more accurately the meaning of the term " inflammation." 



570A-. Inflammation. 



The changes in the condition of the blood-vessels, which have been 

 described above, constitute the processes known as inflammation. 



Inflammation cannot, however, technically be said to be present, until 

 the stage of effusion through the coats of blood-vessels has been 

 arrived at. But in common parlance any abnormal amount of blood in 

 a part, especially when the stage of congestion and exudation has been 

 reached, is spoken of as " inflammation." 



To recapitulate, the processes which culminate in inflammation are 



1. Nervous irritation. 



2. More blood to the part. 



3. Stagnation of the blood in the surrounding parts. 



4. Effusion through the coats of the over-loaded vessels. This last 

 stage is inflammation properly so called. 



The subject of Inflammation has been treated of at some length in 

 Chapter 18, to which the reader is referred for further information. 



57(K. Need of Treatment. 



What is the need of treatment, if Nature supplies the remedy? 



1st. Because inflammation, Nature's remedy, is generally at the onset 

 over-bountiful, or you may call it over-violent. 



It requires to be moderated by art; the effusion poured forth is at 

 first often too great; and second, the quality of the effusion is, from 

 some disturbance of the system, apt to be unhealthy, i. e. not quite of the 

 quality best suited for repair. 



2nd. Because in the later stages of the curative process, the inflam- 

 matory action is apt to subside before the process of repair has been 

 thoroughly completed. 



57Q/. Of the early stage of the Separative process. 



In the early stage of repair, the inflammatory action is apt to be over- 

 violent. In such cases, indeed in most cases of injury, we must endea- 

 vour to moderate its violence by Art, i. e. by treatment, but it varies 

 much according to the vascularity and nervous endowment of the part 

 injured, and also especially in regard to the locale of the injury in which 

 the inflammation requires to be reduced. 



When, reduced to a moderate state, the blood-vessels exude the requi- 

 site quantity of reparative material of a good quality ; and Nature may 

 in due time effect the repair. 



670k. Means of reducing Inflammation. 



Cold application*. Cold applications reduce inflammation by con- 

 Itringing the coats of the blood-vessels. By this action, first, they reduce 



