80 INFLAMMATION. 



that all vital action has ceased by its deathy coldness, its 

 blackness, its soft and flabby feel, its crackling sensation 

 under the finger, and its putrid odour. Should it be an 

 internal organ, the signs observed of mortification in general 

 are, a sudden cessation of pain (so that, to a common ob- 

 server, the animal would appear to have experienced an 

 unexpected change for the better) ; this, however, is a delu- 

 sion, for the issue is denoted by the wild stare, the cold 

 sweat, the sinking pulse, and the delirium which quickly 

 supervene. For, although recovery occurs after mortifi- 

 cation in external parts, it is very rare to have a favorable 

 issue when an internal organ becomes mortified. 



The blood contained in a mortified part, and for some 

 distance in the trunks communicating with it, is found to be 

 coagulated ; the cellular substance commonly contains fluid, of 

 a more or less off'ensive character, dependent on the chemical 

 changes it may have undergone since the departure of life. 

 In cases of external mortification, where a separation ensues 

 between the parts, the plugging of the vessels with coagula 

 is of immense importance being no less than the means of 

 preserving life, which otherwise would be forfeited through 

 hemorrhage when the dead structure fell from the body. 

 There is a curious fact connected with the blood-vessels in 

 relation to mortification : while other parts in their vicinity, 

 by which they are surrounded, are dying, the blood-vessels 

 themselves are preserved from the general wreck, these last 

 rarely sloughing. I had an illustration of this in a case of 

 fistulous parotid duct, in which it became necessary to re- 

 move the gland. I determined on doing this by a sloughing 

 process : to promote this action I injected into it a strong 

 solution of lunar caustic. An enormous and truly terrific 

 slough followed ; which dissected its way with all precaution 

 among the trunks of blood-vessels and nerves without open- 

 ing or severing one of them. 



Having concluded the local terminations of inflammation, 

 I shall next say a few words on its — 



Secondary or Constitutional Effects; though of 

 these it is my intention to speak more fully hereafter. So 



