72 INFLAMMATION. 



larity : the skin seems to stand first on this list ; the mucous 

 membranes certainly rank next ; then come cellular mem- 

 brane and bones ; and, lastly, cartilaginous, ligamentous, 

 and tendinous textures. This accounts for the ulcer in 

 the heel not running deeper than through the skin ; the cel- 

 lular tissue beneath being indisposed to take on the same 

 action. The same observation may be made in regard to 

 the ulcerations of mucous membranes : the recent glandered 

 ulcer extends only through the schneiderian membrane, 

 spreading over its surface rather than dipping into the com- 

 paratively little-organized cartilage beneath. In the case of 

 a deep-seated aneurism, however, although the same suscep- 

 tibility to ulceration is observable, yet by a law of the ani- 

 mal economy, does matter doomed to be discharged, make 

 its way directly to the surface, or else to some internal 

 cavity, as the alimentary canal, or as the air-passages. Al- 

 though nothing can resist this natural impulse, yet it is 

 curious to observe what a strange course the matter will 

 sometimes take to avoid some vital part, and how the blood- 

 vessels and nerves will escape the general destruction, while 

 bones even undergo the process of absorption. Poll-evil and 

 fistula afford us dreadful examples of the ravages ulceration 

 may make among bones and cartilages. Occult spavin, and 

 disease of the navicular joint, likewise furnish us with 

 specimens of ulcerative action in the same structures. 



Granulation is the process by which chasms occasioned 

 by external injury of any kind are filled up with new 

 material : in fact, it is only another name for what used to 

 be termed incarnation : flesh being wanted to fill the 

 wound, but cellular tissue invariably remains. As soon as 

 the ulcerative process becomes arrested, and the parts recover 

 their healthy action, we perceive springing up from the in- 

 nermost recesses of the chasm, little red pointed eminences, 

 which have received the name oi granulations. In the first 

 instance, they consist purely of coagulable lymph; soon 

 after, blood-vessels, and nerves, and absorbents shoot into 

 them, and they then obtain the power of secreting purulent 

 matter. In their organized state, they likewise become 



