264 SEROUS SYSTEM 



PATHOLOGY OF THE SEROUS TISSUE, 



Q. Give a general division of the serous diseases. 



#. They are idiopathic or essential, and sympathetic, 



Q. What is the most frequent disease of this tissue? 



#. Inflammation, acute and chronic. 



Q. Are all the membranes equally disposed to inflame ? 



A. No; they exhibit this disposition in the following 

 order, viz. the pleura, peritoneum, pericardium, tunica 

 vaginalis, and the arachnoid membrane. 



Q. What is the most frequent cause of serous inflam- 

 mation? 



#. Suppressed perspiration. 



Q. What conspicuous symptoms attend serous inflam 

 mation? 



t#. A peculiar lancinating pain and great fever. 



Q. What is the common termination of serous inflam- 

 mation? 



*ft. It is by adhesion; and this takes place by a new 

 membrane, or by an elongation of fibres, or by contact 

 and blending of the surfaces of the membranes. 



Q. What is the order of liability, in the serous mem- 

 branes, to this adhesion? 



ft. It is as follows: the pleura is most given to form 

 adhesion, next the peritoneum, then the pericardium, the 

 tunica vaginalis, and lastly the arachnoides. 



Q. As serous inflammation terminates in effusion and 

 suppuratibn, what fluids are found in the sacs ? 



Jl. It sometimes resembles milky serum, sometimes it 

 has flakes swimming in the serum; the serum is again 

 bloody; and lastly there is pus. 



