10 CAUSES, SYMl'TO.MS AND TREATMENT OF 



mation of articulations it is the same — a slight puncture in the region of or 

 in the joint, from the action of the air and escape of synovia The same 

 is found in rhtumatism. Although pain is often the sign of the inflam- 

 mation, you may have inflammation go on to a considerable extent 

 without any great degree of pain being manifested. We see this in horses 

 and cattle, and I believe in man, from irritation of the lungs. If in a 

 horse, he is dull, dumpish, as it is called, in doing work. But by and by 

 the appetite is gone, etc., a surgeon is called, and even hepitization may 

 have taken place. Pain is due to the distention of the blood vessels 

 pressing on and affecting the nerves. Tissues that do not appear to 

 possess any degree of sensibility in health will be very painful in inflam- 

 mation — bone, for instance. In this the pain is most excruciating. In 

 the mucous membrane of the bowels and respiratory organs, pain is not 

 so intense ; it is a dull uneasiness, and there may be great pain without 

 much inflammation, as in spavin ; and in spasmodic colic, the animal 

 suffers as much as in enteritis ; but it is, however, a sign of inflam- 

 mation. If a part has been in a state of inflammation, it must have a 

 termination or result. 



Terminations of inflammation are resolution, adhesion, effusion, sup- 

 puration, ulceration, and mortification or gangrene. Adhesion and 

 effusian are sometimes not given as results. Resolution is the most 

 favourable ; for iostance, if a part has been under the inflammatory pro- 

 cess, this process is arrested, and the parts restored to tteir natural con- 

 dition, then we say it terminated in resolution, which, in most cases, is 

 most desirable. Nutrition and function may be restored to their natural 

 condition, but there may be a slight change in the structure, but so slight 

 that it cannot be noticed, and it is resolution. A form of resolution is 

 delitescence, that in which the inflammation subsides before the exuda- 

 tion solidifies, and the products are taken up by the vessels, and got rid 

 of. We often see this in our patients. After fomenting the parts, the 

 inflammation subsides, and the products are taken up by absorption; 

 but if it coagulates or solidifies, then the process is different and more 

 tedious. It breaks up by a kind of fatty degeneration, and becomes 

 mixed with the surrounding fluids and separates into various compounds, 

 and is got rid of by way of the circulation, through the various excretory 

 organs. It is in this way that some of the enlargements in the system 

 are got rid of. We set up an inflammatory action by irritation, and the 

 results of the old inflammation are broken up and so got rid of 



Adhesion. — W^hen the two surfaces are brought together, and heal- 

 ing takes place. In our patients many wounds heal by adhesion. W * 

 find this in injuries in certaiu parts, where the exudation, instead 

 of breaking up, is converted into an organized body, and remains 

 during the life of the animal, to a more or less extent. We find 

 this in sprain of the fetlock joint. It becomes inflamed, the ani- 

 mal is moved around, which keeps up t e inflammatory process ; 

 vessels and nerves pass in, and a new structure is formed. But we 

 find this may become denser to a certain extent, and the enlargement 

 becomes smaller and smaller. It is a case of adhesion. When yon 

 have such a case, just think of the inflammatory process, and do not 

 give exercise. Exercise may reduce the pain for the time being, but 

 after resting it will increase. It is, to say the least, absurd : but keep 

 quiet, and allay the 



Effusion. — There is fibrine or its constituents, but it does not 

 coagulate until exposed to the atmosphere, as in pleurisy. There is 

 more or less eft'usion of serum ; and fibrinous threads are also seen. We 

 have it in connection with injuries, as a kick in the region of the loins, 



