232 



LECTURE X. 



FIG. 69. 



tion " made its way to the centre of the clot. This was 

 a very singular theory, which can only be approxima- 

 tively comprehended by assuming, as it was still the cus- 

 tom to do in Cruveilhier's time, pus to be a simple fluid. 

 But apart from these extremely obscure interpretations, 

 the fact remains constant, against which even now no 



argument can be advanced, that 

 before a trace of inflammation 

 is visible, we find a clot, and 

 that shortly afterwards in the 

 middle of this clot a mass dis- 

 plays itself, which differs in ap- 

 pearance from the clot, whilst 

 on the other hand it exhibits a 

 greater or less resemblance to 

 pus. 



With this observation as my 

 starting point, I have endea- 

 voured to clear up the doctrine 

 of phlebitis, as far as lies in my 

 power, by substituting for the 

 mysticism which pervaded Cru- 

 veilhier's interpretation, merely a statement of the real 

 facts. We do not know that inflammation as such has 

 any necessary connection with coagula ; on the contrary, 

 it has turned out that the doctrine of stasis rests upon 

 manifold misinterpretations. Inflammation may un- 

 questionably exist when the current of blood within the 

 vessels of the affected part is perfectly free and unob- 

 structed. If we therefore leave inflammation on one 

 side and confine our attention simply to the coagulation 



Fig. 69. Thrombosis of the saphenous vein. S. Saphenous vein. T. Thrombus : 

 v, v' thrombi seated on the valves (valvular) in process of softening, and connected 

 by more recent and thinner portions of coagulum. O. Prolongation of the plug, 

 projecting beyond the mouth of the vessel into the femoral vein C'. 



