chaiTacter and tendency of inflammation. 85 



near quarter, and the animal halted when walking. Two 

 days from this, similar lumps became apparent on the body, 

 head, and other limbs ; there was a discharge of ill- digested 

 matter from the nose. In a fortnight from that period the 

 colt had become so virulently farcied and glandered, as to 

 render his destruction the only alternative. Mr. Coleman 

 saw the case, and attributed the untoward event to the 

 effects of foul air, to which the animal had probably been 

 previously exposed. The impression on the mind of the 

 owner was, that it was destroyed by the operation ; on that 

 plea he peremptorily refused to pay the expenses which had 

 been incurred. This case well illustrates what is meant by 

 unhealthy inflammation j though we ascribe it rather to ill 

 condition of body than to any peculiarity in the parts. 



Inflammation a Salutary Process. — Under certain 

 circumstances, inflammation is not only to be endured, but 

 even encouraged. Were it not for inflammation and its 

 effects, no wound could be healed, no bone united, no breach 

 repaired. A puncture into a joint, or a lacerated intestine, 

 is always repaired by inflammation ; which is the same pro- 

 cess by which the joint is anchylosed and the bowel morti- 

 fied. Inflammation works good or harm, depending on the 

 nature of the case — on its duration, its cause, the part 

 affected, its character, its tendency, &c. The exercise 

 of discriminative judgment in these particulars it is that 

 constitutes a scientific practitioner. Accordingly, we now and 

 then find it beneficial to artificially excite inflammation in 

 various parts of the body. We do so in an external part, 

 to detract, by way of revulsion, from some internal and 

 comparatively much more seriously inflamed part : blisters, 

 rowels, setons, and irritants of all kinds are used with this 

 view in cases of sickness ; and the practice is found bene- 

 ficial in relieving the patient. It also turns out a very safe 

 artifice, inasmuch as the fresh inflammation commonly exists 

 in a manageable form; although we have no reason for 

 believing it at all difters from that which it is designed to 

 counteract, AVc very frequently, however, excite inflamma- 

 tion with another view ; which is to produce absorption of 



