426 HEALING OF A SORE. 



In the treatment of a sore upon the surface of the 

 body, the means we adopt in order to promote the 

 healing process check the free and rapid growth of the 

 bioplasm. The commencement of the healing process 

 is associated with more slow nutrient change. See 

 p. 422. In the same manner what we desire to effect 

 in the treatment of internal inflammations and the 

 feverish state, is to check the undue growth of 

 bioplasm which is proceeding in the blood in certain 

 parts of the body, and in the " inflamed " tissues or 

 organs. This bioplasm can only be reached through 

 the blood. And it can be shown that the remedies 

 which have been proved by experience to be of value 

 in the treatment of such cases, possess the property 

 of checking the redundant growth of bioplasm and 

 can be taken up by the blood and distributed through 

 the body without losing their properties. Now in 

 many extensive internal inflammations such as pneu- 

 monia and pericarditis, it seems to me probable 

 that the alcohol taken up by the blood really acts 

 directly upon the morbid bioplasm growing and mul- 

 tiplying so very rapidly just outside the capillary 

 vessels, and checks the process. It will be asked 

 upon the theory I have ventured to propound : How 

 it is that the alcohol acts upon the morbid and not 

 upon the healthy structure ? But this question is not 

 difficult to answer. The healthy cells being sur- 

 rounded by a thick protective covering or embedded 

 in a matrix (cell-wall, intercellular substance), are not 



