OF FARRIERY. 



IfiT 



pus. nor any permanent injury of" structure. 

 This termination of inflammation is termed 

 resolution. It is fortunately the most com- 

 mon, as well as the most desirable manner in 

 which the affection ends. 



If, however, notwithstanding the applica- 

 tion of the usual remedies, the several symp- 

 toms of heat, pain, &c., instead of diminishing, 

 i-ather increase, and the tumour gradually 

 acquires a larger size, turns soft, somewhat 

 prominent in the middle, or towards its most 

 depending part, the inflammation has ended 

 in suppuration. 



The worst, but happily the least frequent 

 consequence of common inflammation, is the 

 death or mortification of the part affected. 

 The signs of this disastrous event are a 

 cliaoge of colour in the part, which from 

 being of a bright red, becomes of a livid hue ; 

 small vessels filled with a thin fetid serum 

 arise on its surface, and air is plainly felt to 

 exist in the disordered situation. The pain 

 indeed is diminished, but the pulse sinks, while 

 the tumour is gradually changed into a black 

 fibrous mass. 



These are the three most usual termina- 

 tions of inflammation. By many writers, how- 

 ever, another disorder has been treated of as 

 one in which inflammation is apt to end, 

 namely, scirrlwus. But, although that com- 

 plaint may perhaps in a few instances follow 

 inflammation, yet it is far from being a com- 

 mon consequence of it. Hence, althimgli iii- 

 flamtuatory affections may justly enough be 

 mentioned as one of the many exciting causes 

 of fccirrliou'«, yet the cousidcralion of this 

 disorder can never with propriety, it is pre- 

 sumed, be introduced into an account of i»- 

 fiammatioo. 



<Jomnion i.-ilammaUfs f^articulariy when it 



affects glanchilar parts, is oden observed lo 

 leave an induration in the part. Such indu- 

 rations, howe»'er, are not at all malignant, and 

 conscqiiontly are very different in their nature 

 from v^hat ts implied l)y a real scirrhous. 



TREAIMKNT OF INFLAMMATION. 



Removal of I he exciting, or remote Caitfc. 



After the de>ctiption which we have given 

 of inflammation, the reader may easily guess, 

 that the grand |)r.iiciple to be observed in the 

 treatment, is to endeavour to les.sen that 

 immoderate action of the arteries, which is 

 now commonly set down as the proximate 

 cause. 



The first circumstance to be attended to.^ in 

 all cases in which resolution is to be at- 

 tempted, is the removal of all such exciting 

 causes of the disorder as may happen to 

 present themselves. Foreign sub,stances in 

 wounds frequently excite inflammation, and 

 ought to be taken away as speedily as pos- 

 sible. A [lioce of bone, or nail taken up in 

 the foot, or even a thorn in the leg, often give 

 rise to the affection, and require immediate 

 removal. Such exciting causes as these may 

 oftentimes be <leteclcd and removed at once ; 

 and lliis is doing a great deal towards the 

 cure of the inflammation. Many of tiie excit- 

 ing causes of this affection are only of » 

 momtnlary apftlicatiou ; yet, though they no 

 liiMger exist, the process of inflammation must 

 follow the violence and irritation which were 

 suiKlcnly produced, and still remain. Ilence, 

 taking away, if possible, the remote cause, it 

 is projter lo Moderate by other means the in- 

 crea.sed action of the \ esscls. 



If the doctrines which \vc have afhancr«t 

 be true, that inflammation depends ujmn an 



