II.-ON MORBID GROWTH^ 



(INCLUDING INFLAMMATION). 



1. General Considerations. 



§ 64. In natural contrast to those tissne-clianges which we 

 have been hitherto considering stands morbid growth. By this 

 term we understand every over-production of tissue-elements. 

 The varieties of morbid growth differ extremely in their relative 

 importance, whether as regards the organ in which they occur, 

 or in their relation to the body as a whole. We were able to 

 assure ourselves that a certain impairment of potential function 

 was constantly associated with eveiy sort of retrograde meta- 

 morphosis : this cannot be asserted of morbid growth. We 

 must, however, guard ourselves jealously against inferring any 

 o-eneral increase of functional capacity, such as might be expected 

 a priori from the contrast between the two orders of phenomena ; 

 at most we can only speak of a deviation from the normal 

 standard of functional power ; and that is not saying much. To 

 get a sound basis for a comprehensive knowledge of morbid 

 growth, it is both practically advantageous, and quite in accord- 

 ance with the principles of modern pathology, that we should 

 endeavour, in the first place, to reduce its manifestations to an 

 excess of physiological growth, i.e. of the normal development and 

 growth of organs. A historic retrospect (which need be very 

 brief) shows us that this principle was always in the mind of 

 our forerunners ; but it has never been carried out to its strict 

 logical consequences till now. 



§ 65. I will not go farther back than to John Hunter. In his 

 celebrated treatise " On the Blood, Inflammation, and Gunshot 



* " Morbid Growth " is here employed as synonymous with " patho- 

 logische Neubildung ;" the expression is unsatisfactory, but it has the 

 merit of being more English than " pathological new-formation," a bar- 

 barism not unfrequently met with. — Tr. 



