INFLAMMATION. 321 



§ 275. But we must defer considering the dangers of sup- 

 puration for the present. Let us first of all take the course of 

 the inflammatory process when it remains true to its original, 

 adhesive character. We may justly inquire how, under the 

 conditions described above, the process of exudation can ever 

 come to a stop. Now one reason for its cessation lies in the 

 conversion of the young embryonic tissue into fibrous connective 

 tissue. This transformation, as was fully shown in § 93, is 

 invariably associated with a certain amount of contraction which, 

 in its turn, leads to the obliteration of a great majority of the 

 newly-formed vessels, so that the blood-supply of the fulh'- 

 developed adhesions represents but a very small fraction of the 

 original capillary network. On the other hand, we must 

 remember that although the fibrin, which is not merely applied 

 to the surface of the young connective tissue, but sends countless 

 processes into its substance, does not undergo organisation, it 

 nevertheless shrinks uniformly and with great force. This 

 shrinking sets in directly after its coagulation, and j^rogresses 

 steadily when the conditions are favourable (and where could 

 it find conditions more favourable than the present?), until it 

 has attained the smallest volume of which it is capable, or 

 until some other sort of metamorphosis has robbed it of its 

 most characteristic proj^erty. It is obvious that this contrac- 

 tion of the fibrin must affect the granulation-tissue with its 

 vessels, which it covers and includes, and so must check the 

 further progress of the transudation. Be this as it ma}', 

 transudation is arrested, and absorption takes its place. The 

 shreds and flakes of fibrin which are freely suspended in the 

 exudation begin to undergo mucous and fatty degeneration ; — 

 the soft, swollen material is found to contain innumerable oil- 

 globules, Avhich may however originate in a fatty transformation 

 of its contained cells. This degenerating fibrin presents a 

 whitish and opaque aspect to the naked eye ; if the effusion 

 happen to be absorbed with exceptional rapidity, a portion of 

 fibrin may remain undissolved, and dvy up in some corner of 

 the serous sac, where it becomes cheesy and remains for years 

 in this condition. As a rule indeed, both the suspended fibrinous 

 floccuh, and the fibrin which coats the connective-tissue efflores- 

 cence on the walls of the cavity, undergo complete solution in 

 the eff'used fluid before it disappears, and are subsequently 



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