OF TWO KINDS. 331 



any alteration taking place in the nutrition of the 

 tissue-elements external to the capillaries must of 

 necessity influence these excitor or afferent branches. 

 The fibres may be subjected to increased or diminished 

 pressure, to the influence of an increased or diminished 

 quantity of fluid ; 'and their numerous masses of bio- 

 plasm will necessarily be exposed to the same condi- 

 tions as those of adjacent tissues. In the inflamed 

 tissue, the bioplasts, like those of the tissues around, 

 would receive more pabulum, and would grow faster ; 

 and where growth and increase of living matter are 

 most active, the particular action or function of the 

 tissue is least manifested, because function is the 

 effect of changes in matter which has been already 

 formed. Hence it is not when nerves are growing 

 that we find nervous action remarkably developed, 

 but when they have grown. So in the case supposed 

 the nerves are less active than in the normal state, 

 and, as a consequence of their inactivity or reduced 

 irritability, we have dilatation of the vessels. A further 

 development of the same changes will lead to para- 

 lysis, and ultimately the complete destruction of the 

 normal tissue will follow unless the balance of nutri- 

 tion is restored or death is occasioned.* 



The beneficial effects of external cold in febrile 

 conditions have been long. known, and cold was prac- 



* See also a paper "On the Distribution of Nerves to the Capillaries 

 and their Action in Health and Disease." Microscop. Soc., Dec. 6, 

 1871 ; published in the Monthly Mic. Journ. for Jan., 1872. 



