160 



THE MODERN SYSTEM 



C H A P T E R XVI. 



OF INFLAMMATION GENERALLY. 



The term inflammation is generally under- 

 stood that state of a part, in which it is 

 painful, hotter, and somewhat more turgid 

 than it naturally is; which topical symptoms, 

 when present in any considerable degree, or 

 when they affect very sensible parts, are 

 attended with fever, or a general diseased 

 action of the system. 



The susceptibility of the body for inflamma- 

 tion is of two kinds ; the one original, con- 

 stituting a part of the animal economy, and 

 beyond the reach of human investigation ; the 

 other acquired from the influence of the 

 Weather, sudden changes from hot to cold, 

 and also from cold to hot stables, that are not 

 well ventilated, blows, kicks, &c. The first 

 kind of susceptibility cannot so well be di- 

 minished by art, as some animals are exceed- 

 ingly liable to take on inflammation from their 

 form ; such as narrow-chested Horses, or light 

 chesnut Horses, being always found to be 

 particularly liable to inflammatory diseases. 

 The second may be lessened by the mere 

 Avoidance of the particular causes upoi 

 which it depends. 



Inflammation may, with great propriety, be 

 divided into the healthy and unhealthy. Of 

 the first, there can be only one kii>d ; of the 

 lecond, there may be many, according to 



nature and situation, and nature of the di<^- 

 ease. 



Inflammation may also be divided into the 

 acute, and chronic. Healthy inflammation is 

 generally quick in its progress, for whicli 

 reason it must always rank as an acute species 

 of the afl'ection. Chronic inflammation is al- 

 ways accompanied with a diseased action. a.s 

 in such cases as tumours, &c. 



PRINCIPLES OF INFLAMMATION. 



There is much foundation for believing that 

 healthy inflammation is obedient to ordained 

 principles, according to the tone of the consti- 

 tution, or in the structure or situation of the 

 parts affected. The nature of the existing 

 cause can have no share in modifying the 

 appearance of inflammation, whether this be 

 occasioned by the application of heat, or vio- 

 lence done. Healthy inflammation is always 

 the same in its nature, and all the influence 

 which the exciting causes can have, is pro- 

 portioning the degree of inflammation to their 

 own violence. 



The attentive observations of experience, 

 the only solid basis of all medical, as well as 

 other knowledge, has informed the practitioner, 

 that parts, which from their vicinity to the 

 source of the circulation of blood, through 



