CHAPTER III. 



SYMPTOMS OF INFLAMMATION. 



GENERAL SYMPTOMS OF INFLAMMATION INFLAMMATORY APPEAR- 

 ANCES OF THE BLOOD — TREATMENT OF INFLAMMATION TREAT- 

 MENT OF CHRONIC INFLAMMATION. 



The symptoms of inflammation are of two kinds, namely, local 

 and constitutional. The first-named have been already de- 

 scribed. The constitutional symptoms are those indicative of 

 sympathetic, symptomatic, or inflammatory fever, and are of the 

 greatest importance, indicating the nature of the disease when 

 the inflammation exists in an internal organ removed from sight 

 or touch, and often guiding the method of treatment. There 

 are some inflammations that are unattended by any appreciable 

 signs of fever; others, again, by symptoms that are so in- 

 significant as to pass unobserved ; but when an inflammation 

 is sufficiently extensive, the general system is disturbed by fever 

 (pyrexia). 



Prominent amongst the symptoms of inflammatory fever 

 are rigors (shiverings), elevation of internal temperature, and 

 debility ; followed by, or alternating with, increased heat of 

 skin, increased frequency, perhaps force, and often hardness of 

 the pulse, with disturbance or derangement of the natural 

 functions of the animal body. The rigors are sometimes severe, 

 or amounting only to mere chilliness, a slight staring of the coat 

 being the only sign; but they are always important, as they 

 mark the outset of the febrile disturbance, and it is worth 

 observing that rigors more commonly attend the commencement 

 of spontaneous inflammation than of inflammation caused by 

 external injuries. They are of very frequent occuiTcnce in 

 horses that present no signs of local disease ; they are dull, off 



