TO STIMULANTS IN INFLAMMATION. 393 



which have taken place in our views concerning the 

 nature and treatment of important general pathological 

 changes. The process called inflammation lies at the 

 root of many of the disorders acute and chronic 

 from which civilized man and the higher animals suffer. 

 Inflammatory action is, as it were, the point round 

 which medical theories revolve, and differences regard- 

 ing the nature of the phenomena comprised under 

 inflammation have led to divisions upon the most 

 important questions of practice, and have caused the 

 greatest differences of opinion regarding the proper 

 treatment of disease. Inflammation is a subject which 

 always excites intense interest, and even now the 

 nature of the changes taking place cannot be discussed 

 without much feeling. The calm necessary for the 

 steady prosecution of scientific discovery is not unfre- 

 quently disturbed by the vehemence and warmth of de- 

 bate as to the proper interpretation of observed facts. 

 The term "inflammation" involves increased action ; 

 and in all inflammations it is true that there is in- 

 creased action. In order to combat this undue action 

 and reduce the burning activity of the inflammation, 

 we used to be taught to give remedies which depressed 

 the heart's action and reduced the patient's strength. 

 But it has long been observed that many forms 

 of inflammation are only seen in systems already 

 reduced and exhausted by disease, misery or privation. 

 There are many cases in which frequency of pulse, 

 violent delirium, extreme prostration, and all those 



