LOCAL INFLAMMATION. 431 



siderable, the circulating system universally participates, or 

 it is not excited. The general circulation is also increased, 

 according to the circumstances connected with the struc- 

 ture and functions of the injury. 



When the general circulation is increased, the horse is 

 said to have symptomatic fever ; but in every instance the 

 vessels of the inflamed part are in a state of distention. 

 The tumid state of the part in inflammation is a well known 

 symptom, and is dependent on the distended state of the 

 vessels themselves ; to which is sometimes superadded, an 

 effusion or pouring out of the contents of these vessels ; in 

 which, either the serous parts of the blood, or coagulable 

 lymph, are eff'used into the cellular tissues ; andwhich further 

 increases the tension, and embarrasses the recovery. Thus 

 the effects and terminations of local inflammation are varied 

 according to the nature of the part, the state of the patient, 

 and the violence of the attack. If the inflamed vessels be 

 enabled to reinstate themselves, and of recovering their 

 contractility, resolution takes place. But when this does 

 not occur, a more protracted process is usually necessary 

 to the cure. But the effusion, in healthy inflammation, 

 consequent upon incision, is formed of coagulable lymph, 

 which is the cement by whose means the breaches are 

 to be repaired. This joining together is called adhesion. 

 It' extensive injury has been done to the surrounding parts 

 by laceration, &c., then the same vessels, having organized 

 the layer of coagulable lymph, secrete a homogeneous fluid 

 called pus, which process is called suppuration. Sometimes, 

 however, the inflammation is torpid, when, instead of pus, 

 a substance like to white of egg is secreted. This may, or 

 may not, have an offensive smell. Absorption likewise 

 ensues ; and whereas suppuration repairs the loss of sub- 

 stance, a further diminution of it now takes place. Small 

 holes are formed upon the surface, generally having ragged 

 edges ; these holes are termed ulcers, and the process 

 by which they are established ulceration. Occasions will, 

 however, occur, when the inflammatory action is inordi- 

 nately violent, and the reparative agency very dormant : in 

 which states, the inflammatory congestion may rupture the 

 vessels, and destroy them, and the effused blood putrifying 



