358 CHANGES IN THE BLOOD 



blood is changed, I need only advert to the fact that 

 it has been noticed over and over again that slight 

 wounds or abrasions of the skin do not heal when 

 fever poison is circulating in the blood. The bioplasm 

 of the wound grows very fast, and time is not allowed 

 for cicatrisation. Perhaps very minute particles of the 

 bioplasm which multiply in the blood are continually 

 escaping, suspended in the serum through the walls of 

 the capillaries. Unquestionably the capillary circula- 

 tion is less free than in health, and sometimes this is 

 so marked as to cause a peculiar and characteristic 

 dusky appearance of the skin, which often attracts the 

 attention of friends. 



In many instances evidence of derangement of the 

 blood is afforded by the fact of the existence of con- 

 siderable disturbance in the healthy functions. The 

 appetite is bad, there is giddiness, and perhaps head- 

 ache, besides which the nervous and muscular systems 

 are so disturbed as to cause a feeling of fatigue and 

 general langour and discomfort. Muscular movements 

 are accompanied by pain and uneasiness, and the 

 patient is disinclined to move about. Very little 

 exercise gives rise to great fatigue, and every move- 

 ment of inspiration becomes an actual effort. Often- 

 times, however, these derangements are not sufficient 

 to attract attention ; and when the fever breaks out 

 the patient appears both to himself and to his friends 

 to. have passed almost suddenly from a condition of 

 health into what may become a very serious and 



