448 THE LAWS OF ORGANIC 



consequence of inflammation, or of a scrophulous 

 or peculiar predisposition, if these be fully formed. 

 But when the first symptoms of the affection are 

 slightly developed, the consideration of the na- 

 ture of those causes to which these are attribut- 

 able becomes an object of imperative investiga^ 

 tion. If, in the first stage of phthisis, a slow 

 inflammatory process be going on, it would seem 

 imprudent to apply means that tend to accelerate 

 this condition ; but if disease be gradually de- 

 stroying the healthy structure of the lungs, with- 

 out the sanguiferous system being in any degree 

 excited, we may be enabled to employ certain 

 powerful agents that would apparently be im- 

 proper in the other case. It was the opinion of 

 LJENNEC, that this disease was seldom or never 

 radically cured unless the tubercles have passed 

 through the various steps of degeneration to the 

 formation of a cavity, the membranes of which 

 protect the pulmonary tissue from further ra- 

 vages, and the purulent matter which they secrete 

 escapes through the communication existing be- 

 tween the bronchial ramification and the cavity 

 itself. The obliteration of this communication or 

 cavity constitutes a perfect cure. 



DXLVII. If we follow the opinion of Dr 

 ALISON, supported by a variety of well establish- 

 ed facts, which seem to show that tubercles are 

 more frequently the effects of inflammation than 

 of any other cause, we shall be influenced accord- 



