lH-2 



THE MODERN SYSTEM 



ulcerathe sta^e of inflammation most fre- 

 quently, in the Horse, attacks the air cells of 

 tlie lungs, or the kidneys, but do not seem to 

 aflfect, only partially, any other mucous ineni- 

 braiies ; the suppurative inflammation comes 

 on more readily than either the adhesive or the 

 ulcerative stage. Adhesions, which originate 

 ftom the slightest deoree of inflammation in 

 otiier situations and structures, can only be 

 produced by a violent kind in the above- 

 mentioned parts. Ulceration is more fre- 

 quently met with upon mucous surfaces, than 

 adhesive ones. 



The cellular membrane appears to be much 

 more susceptible of the adhesive inflammation 

 than the adipose (or fatty cells,) and much 

 more readily passes into suppuration. Thus, 

 we see the cellular substance, connecting- 

 muscles together, and the adipose membrane 

 to the muscles, inflaming, suppurating, and 

 the matter separating the muscles from their 

 lateral connections, and even the fat from the 

 muscles, while the latter substance and the 

 skin are only highly inflamed. But it must be 

 allowed that in situations where fat abounds, 

 we very frequently meet with abscesses. 

 This is so much the case, that fat has been 

 accounted a more frequent nidus for collec- 

 tion of matter than the cellular substance. 

 We have mentioned above, the fats being 

 highly inflamed ; but this is not an expression 

 strictly true. Fat has no vessels, or principle 

 of life, nor action of its own ; consequently, we 

 cannot suppose ii can either inflame or suppu- 

 rate. We know, that it is its^elf a secretion, 

 and, ^hen an abscess is formed in it, we 

 understand that the mode of action in the 

 vessels naturally destined to deposit fat, had 

 been altered to that adapted to the formation 

 of pus. When we speak of the fat being in- 



flamed, we imply, that the membranous cells 

 in which it is contained, and by which it is 

 secreted, are thus affected. 



The deeply-situated parts of the body, 

 more especially the vital ones, very readily 

 admit of the adhesive stage of inflammation. 

 The circumstance of deep'y-seated parts not 

 so readily taking on the suppurative stage of 

 inflammation, as the superficial ones do, is 

 strikingly illustrated in cases of extraneous 

 bodies ; which, if deeply lodged, only produce 

 the adhesive inflammation. By this process, 

 a cyst is formed, in wliich they lie without 

 any inconvenience ; and they may even gra- 

 dually change their situation without disturb- 

 ing the parts through which they pass : but 

 no sooner do these same bodies approach the 

 skin, than abscesses immediately arise. 



All inflammations, attendant with disease, 

 partake of some specific quality, from which 

 simple inflammation is entirely free. 



When the constitution allows the true ad- 

 hesive and suppurative stages to occur, it is 

 to be regarded as the most healthv. 



SYMPTOMS AND NATURE OF HEAF-THY INFLA.M- 

 MATION, PHLEGMON. 



Swelling, heat, and pain being the principal 

 symptoms of phlegmonous inflammation ; in 

 short, this term is usually applied to a cir- 

 cumscribed tumour. These are tJie first 

 appearances observed in every case of phleg- 

 mon ; and when they are slight, and the part 

 affected is of no great extent, they have com- 

 monly very little, and sometimes no apparent 

 influence on the general system. But Avhen 

 they are more considerable, and the inflam- 

 mation becomes extensive, the soft parts are 

 more swelled than the harder ones. 



And though all the symptoms of inflamma- 



