SYMPTOMS or INFLAMMATION. 55 



to themselves, and widely differing one from another. Now, 

 when inflammation has attacked a part, not only does its 

 nutritive action become disturbed and irregular, but any 

 peculiar function it may have also becomes more or less 

 deranged. 



Origin of Inflammation. — Excited sensibility appears 

 to be the earliest sign of inflammation. It is this which 

 immediately follows the application of a stimulant ; as well 

 as this to which the vascular phenomena that succeed seem 

 referable : the energy of the vascular powers appearing to be 

 roused through excitement produced in the nervous system. 

 A tingling sensation draws our attention to the part affected, 

 and we discover that it has become red, hot, tumid, and 

 painful : to express which conditions in one word, medical 

 men use the term inflammation, 



SYMPTOMS OF INFLAMMATION. 



The Symptoms by which inflammation is known to have 

 commenced are, then, heat, pain, redness, and swelling. 

 Celsus, who wrote before the Christian era, thus quaintly 

 exhibits them : 



" Rul)or et tumor cum calore et dolore." 



As the Roman author has handed them down to us, so they 

 stand in our present description ; they, not separately, but 

 collectively, constituting inflammation. Both heat and red- 

 ness may be created in a part by friction, or by exposure to 

 the fire ; pain will result from nervous irritation ; and swelling 

 will arise from extravasation of blood, or from the efllux of 

 any of the secretions — urine, bile, saliva, &c. : and yet, in 

 none of these instances is inflammation present. 



Heat is perceived according to the part inflamed j at the 

 same time, it is a sign consisting rather in effect than 

 originating with a cause. That there exists a sensation of 

 heat, even of burning at tiaies, any one who has had a whitlow 

 will not fail to remember : but the hairy covering of the 

 horse renders the transmission to our fingers comparatively 



