16 MANUAL OF EQUINE MEDICINE. 



more sensitive and rigid the tissue, and the more rapid the 

 effusion, the greater is the pain. 



Impaired function is due to the injury of the tissues in- 

 volved. 



VARIETIES OF INFLAMMATION. 



The several varieties of inflammation are to be regarded 

 simply as steps in the process, due to differences in 



1. The resisting power of the tissue ; 



2. The intensity of the cause ; and, 



3. The duration of its action. 



Serous Inflammation. — The best examples are chronic effu- 

 sions into serous cavities, as the pleura, tunica vaginalis, or the 

 joints. In impoverished states of the blood, especially when 

 the albumen is diminished, inflammatory exudations are 

 liable to be serous, even though the process be of considerable 

 intensity. In serous inflammation the exudation contains 

 excess of albumen, and but few white cells ; hence it does 

 not coagulate, though a few flakes of fibrine may be formed. 



If the process be more severe, the exudation contains more 

 albumen, fibrinogen, and white cells; and hence fibrine forms 

 in increasing quantity. 



Networks of fibrine are of frequent occurrence in the 

 meshes of inflammatory connective-tissue. These inflam- 

 mations are termed sero-fibrinous. 



Fibrinous Inflammation. — In this variety the exudation is 

 still more richly albuminous, and contains more leucocytes. 

 It has a much greater tendency to coagulate, and ' lymph ' 

 forms on the inflamed surface, or in the substance of the 

 inflamed tissue. 



The best examples of this kind of inflammation are those 

 of serous membranes, the pleura for example. Here fibrine 

 containing leucocytes is exuded, and is termed ' lymph.' 



'Lymph' may form on both the visceral and parietal 



