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cal, and one of its chemical, properties that I wish to impress 

 upon the mind of the student, that have an important bearing 

 upon the rationale of treatment. 



RED AND WHITE BLOOD CELLS. 



All the constituents of the blood are not absolute fluids. It 

 contains solid particles, called red and white cells, and, even in 

 a healthy condition of things, when the vessels they pass through 

 have their full natural dimensions, these solid particles can only 

 pass through the capillary vessels in single file. Now I think 

 it is obvious that the very slightest amount of abnormal pres- 

 sure upon the vessels will impede the passage of these cells ; 

 and what is true of the blood vessels and their fluid contents, 

 is equally true of the lymph and lymphatics, and of the 

 secerning organs and their fluid contents. The slightest dimi- 

 nution of the calibre of any of these vessels will interrupt, in 

 some degree, the free and natural flow of their fluids through 

 them, which must be productive of ill effects in proportion to 

 the intensity of the causes. 



CHEMICO-VITAL CHANGES IN THE BLOOD. 



The most prominent of these ill effects or morbid conditions 

 I regard as taking place in the constitution of the blood itself. 

 Pathology teaches us that in all inflammatory conditions, whether 

 general or local, chemico-vital changes take place in the blood 

 which diminishes its albuminous, and increases its fibrinous 

 constituents. This renders the blood less fluid, and therefore 

 less capable of passing through the minute capillary vessels, 

 whether it be of the brain, the lungs, or the feet. The circula- 

 tion being impeded in any organ, or from any cause, produces 

 congestion and inflammation. Thus it will be seen how one 

 abnormal action will produce a series of abnormal actions and 

 reactions in other organs besides the feet. These are the merest 

 hints upon a very important element in the question of lame- 

 ness and its causes ; but I hope they are sufficient to show, 

 theoretically, the value of a 



