144 INFECTION AND IMMUNITY. 



in no sense can be of benefit to the individual., and 

 which can have no conceivable function in over- 

 coming the syphilitic infection. Likewise, the new- 

 formed connective tissue seen in alcoholic cirrho- 

 sis of the liver is of no benefit to the hepatic tissue,, 

 though it may serve in some degree to protect the 

 liver cells from the alcohol which continues to be 

 ingested. In an ulcer of the cornea the presence 

 of serum and of leucocytes, as well as the prolifer- 

 ation of connective tissue, may be the sine qua non 

 for the healing of the ulcer, yet the resulting scar 

 may greatly impair the vision. The inflammation 

 in the instances cited is injurious because of the 

 functional importance of the tissues involved. On 

 the other hand, an extensive scar which has 

 formed in tissues of less functional importance, 

 as in the skin and subcutaneous tissue, may be 

 harmless. 



It is, then, to be recognized that there are certain 

 consequences of the inflammatory reaction, the 

 seriousness of which depends on the situation, 

 severity, duration and extent of the process, and 

 that these consequences are independent of any 

 protective function the inflammation may have 

 exercised. 

 variations The amount and character of the reaction are 



in Reactions. 



subject to many variations, depending on a num- 

 ber of conditions: 



1. It varies with the nature of the microbe. 

 Non-pathogenic organisms induce little more in- 

 flammation than so many minute, inanimate, 

 non-toxic particles. The tubercle bacillus causes 

 especially the formation of connective tissue, 

 giant cells and the accumulation of lymphoid 

 cells, aside from some retrogressive changes char- 



