THE HOESE AND ITS DISEASES. 93 



in a state of health, but when inflamed, it is roused to 

 an alarming degree, and the most dangerous consequen- 

 ces may insue from it. Inflammation has four modes of 

 termination — the fii'st is termed resolution, that is when 

 the disease, after going a certain length, gradually 

 disappears again — the second suppuration, that is, when 

 matter is formed, or an abscess produced — the third is 

 named eff'usion, which implies an extravasation either 

 of blood, coagulated, lymph, or scrum — and the fourth, 

 gangTane or mortification, by which is meant the death 

 of the inflamed part. 



Inflammation of the external parts is generally occa- 

 sioned by some mechanical injury, such as wounds, 

 bruises, etc. ; sometimes however, it arises from external 

 inflammation, or symptomatic fever, and is then to be 

 considered as an efl'ort of nature to cure the internal 

 disease. 



Thus we find in fevers, abscesses taking place on the 

 surface of the body, whereby the fever is considerably 

 diminished, and in general terminates favorably. 



Inflammation is often produced by plethora or redun- 

 dancy of blood in the body, in which case it is sometimes 

 general, the whole arterial system having its action 

 increased ; this also may be considered as an effort of 

 nature to get rid of the superfluous blood, and in such 

 cases, she must be assisted by copious bleeding. The 

 only favorable termination to which internal inflamma- 

 tion can be brought, is resolution, and the most vigorous 

 measures should be "adopted in order to eff'ect it. The 

 most important remedy in these cases is copious bleeding, 

 and the earlier it is employed, the more effectual will it 

 prove. The next remedy is external inflammation, 

 aitificially executed by means of rowels and blisters ; 

 the fever powder, and occasional clysters are of consi- 

 derable service. 



Local inflammation is characterized by redness, 

 swelling, heat, and pain. The redness proceeds from 

 the greater quantity of blood flowing through the heart, 



