148 



INFECTION AND IMMUNITY. 



Inflammatory 



Connective 



Tissue. 



antitoxins, and, in addition, it may be of value 

 in lessening the toxicity of poisons by diluting 

 them, aiding in their elimination, or destroying 

 them by means of ferments ( !). 



Fibrin. The abundant deposit of fibrin seen in some in- 

 flammations is of mechanical value by hemming 

 in the infection and by offering a barrier to the 

 rapid diffusion of toxins. We are all familiar 

 with the part played by fibrinous and fibrous ad- 

 hesions in preventing a localized peritonitis from 

 becoming generalized. In prolonged inflamma- 

 tions fibrin furnishes a ground substance into 

 which new connective tissue and vessels grow (or- 

 ganization) . 



The new-formed connective tissue seen in many 

 inflammations, especially the chronic, as in tuber- 

 culosis and actinomycosis, offers an important 

 barrier to the extension of an infection. Perhaps 

 no better example of this could be cited than the 

 dense tissue which forms around a tuberculous 

 sinus or abscess. 



To sum up, the inflammatory reaction antago- 

 nizes infections, (1) mechanically, through the 

 formation of new connective tissue around the 

 focus, and dense accumulations of leucocytes and 

 fibrin; (2) through the bactericidal and antitoxic 

 actions of the lymph and serum; (3) through the 

 phagocytic action of ameboid cells. 



The value of hot applications, and Bier's passive 

 congestion treatment, in local inflammations, finds 

 a logical explanation in view of the facts men- 

 tioned, in that they increase congestion, which 

 hastens the exudation of plasma and leucocytes 

 and the proliferation of cells, and accelerate the 

 elimination of toxic substances. 



