GENERAL PATHOLOGY. 



CHAPTER I. 



PATHOLOGY OF THE BLOOD AND CIRCULATION. 



INFLAMMATION. 



Inflammation is undoubtedly the most important and most 

 common phenomenon in pathology. It is convenient to con- 

 sider it as an entity rather than a series of morbid phenomena. 

 Ko subject in medicine is more deserving the student's atten- 

 tion. It underlies a majority of the diseases to which man is 

 heir. In all ages its consideration has so dominated the doc- 

 trines and medical philosophy of the time that it might well 

 be said to form the basis of the theory and practice of medi- 

 cine and surgery. 



The term " inflammation " was created in the very infancy 

 of science, indicating that the part involved seemed to 

 burn to be inflamed. The cardinal symptoms which are 

 familiar to all to-day were described two thousand years ago 

 by Celsus tumor, rubor, calor, and dolor. The interpretation 

 of these symptoms and conception of the underlying processes 

 varied as this or that symptom was considered of the greatest 

 importance. Humoral doctrines perished with Harvey's 

 discovery of the circulation of the blood, the advances made 

 in chemistry, and the systematic study of morbid anatomy. 

 Since then the study of inflammatory lesions has followed step 

 by step the progress in the biological sciences. 



Definition : We may attempt to define inflammation as the 

 ensemble of the degenerative and reactionary phenomena oc- 

 curring in living tissues as the result of mechanical, infectious, 

 and toxic injuries. 



Early experiments : John Hunter, a century ago, was the 

 first to throw experimental light upon this subject of in- 



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