io6 INFECTIOUS AND PARASITIC DISEASES. 



either the bacteria or their toxins, or both, are dissem- 

 inated throughout the body, such parts are affected as 

 are susceptible to their action, and in these inflamma- 

 tions are excited. 



If early subsidence of the primary phenomena of an 

 inflammation does not take place, necrobiosis of greater 

 or lesser degree follows : in those instances where some 

 cell destruction was the starting point for the phenom- 

 ena, there is extension of the necrobiotic area. Viewed 

 from the stand-point of tendency, inflammations 

 are either destructive or constructive, that is to say, 

 some exhibit an immediate tendency to disorganization 

 of tissues, other to organization. However, to say 

 that the tendency of an inflammation is destructive 

 does not contradict what has been said of the general 

 purpose of inflammations, viz., defense and repair. 

 A microbe enters a wound in the skin, 



or by way of the blood, the tissues of some 

 Suppuration. . -^ , ^- , , . ,. . 



mternal organ. Through multiplication 



and the excretion of toxins a focus of 

 necrosis is established. Coincidentally with the for- 

 mation of this focus the cardinal signs of inflammation 

 have made their appearance, and so performed their 

 part that the necrobiotic area is circumscribed by a 

 wall of leucocytes which act as a barrier against deeper 

 invasions. Beyond the leucocytic wall, connective 

 tissue cells are in active process of proliferation pre- 

 paratory to encroaching upon the necrotic area as it is 



