1 2 2 INFLAMMA TION. 



ment, and throughout life at a certain time of the 

 year in the case of hybernating animals, and in man 

 under physiological conditions which cause the blood 

 to circulate very slowly, or to stagnate for a time in 

 the smaller vessels of the body. As will be inferred 

 from the remarks made in pp. 108, 1 19, it is not possible 

 to draw any distinct line of demarcation between 

 physiological and pathological changes. In inflamma- 

 tion, the phenomena above referred to proceed a stage 

 further, and then are unquestionably pathological. 

 But even if this stage be reached, it by no means 

 follows that the texture involved should not regain 

 its normal condition and the previous healthy state 

 be perfectly restored. 



On the other hand, it is quite certain that if the 

 state of things now to be described continues for a 

 time, and proceeds to any great extent, destruction 

 of tissue is inevitable and return to the original con- 

 dition is rendered impossible. Repair may follow the 

 injury, but this repair involves serious alteration in 

 structure, with corresponding deterioration in action, 

 without capacity for improvement and without the 

 possibility, under any circumstances, of return to the 

 former state. 



When the circulation through the capillary vessels 

 is impeded in many cases of fever, inflammation, 

 and other diseases, the blood bioplasts (white 

 blood-corpuscles) multiply, and the capillaries often 

 appear to be filled with them. The vessels and their 



