INFLAMMATIONS. 9 



blood has been sufficient to overcome the spasm, to dilate the 

 vessels, and to remove the congestion, so that the part is re- 

 stored to its ordinary and healthy state. 



A resolution takes place also, when the increased impetus of 

 the fluids has produced an increased exhalation into the adjoin- 

 ing cellular texture, or an increased excretion in some neigh- 

 bouring part, and has thereby relaxed the spasm, and relieved 

 the congestion in the vessels of the part more particularly af- 

 fected. 



Lastly, a resolution may take place, when the increased im- 

 petus of the blood in the whole system occasions an evacuation, 

 which, though in a distant part, may prove sufficient to take off 

 the phlogistic diathesis of the whole system, and thereby relieve 

 the congestion and spasm of the particular part affected by in- 

 flammation. 



CCL. The tumour which appears in inflammation may be im- 

 puted in part to the congestion of fluids in their proper vessels ; 

 but is owing chiefly to an effusion of matter into the adjoining 

 cellular texture ; and accordingly tumours seldom appear, but 

 in parts adjoining to a lax cellular texture. If, in this case, 

 the matter effused be only a larger quantity of the ordinary ex- 

 haling fluid, this, when the free circulation in the vessels is re- 

 stored, will be readily absorbed, and the state of the part will 

 become the same as before. But if the increased impetus of 

 the blood in an inflamed part, dilate the exhalent vessels to 

 such a degree, that they pour out an entire serum, this will not 

 be so readily reabsorbed : and from the experiments of Sir John 

 Pringle, and especially from those of Mr. Gaber, Mlscell. 

 Taurin. vol. ii. we learn, that the serum, under stagnation, 

 may suffer a particular change, by having the gluten present 

 in it changed into a white, opaque, moderately viscid, mild 

 liquor, which we name Pus. When this change takes place in 

 the inflamed part, as it is at the same time attended with an 

 abatement of the redness, heat, and pain, which before dis- 

 tinguished the inflammation, so the disease is said to be ter- 

 minated by SUPPURATION ; and an inflamed part, containing a 

 collection of pus, is called an ABSCESS. 



CCLI. In inflammation, the tendency of it to suppuration 

 may be discovered, by the long continuance of the inflamma- 



