INFLAMMATION: ITS TREATMENT. 107 



eruption in any of the numerous forms which are met with. In 

 inflammation of serous membranes there may also be an excess of 

 serum, constituting dropsy ; or, again, pus may be thrown out, or 

 fibrine, with adhesion between the two surfaces, as in pleurisy or 

 peritonitis. In cellular inflammation, again, the serum of the 

 blood may ooze out, forming anasarca or oedema, or there may be 

 a deposit of pus, constituting cellular abscess. The inflammation 

 of the fibrous system has already been explained under rheumatic 

 fever and chronic rheumatism. 



The terms acute and chronic, as applied to inflammation, merely 

 mark the rapidity with which it attacks the individual, and can 

 scarcely be defined, since the limits can hardly be fixed where 

 the one ends and the other begins. Every one, however, will 

 readily understand the two extremes, and must supply the line of 

 demarcation by taking the point intermediate between the two. 



THE TREATMENT required will depend upon the organ attacked, 

 for if this is of vital importance, it is necessary to take care that 

 irreparable injury is not done. In such cases, however, the attack 

 of inflammation receives a specific name, such as Pneumonia, or 

 Phrenitis, under which heads its treatment will be described. As 

 a general rule, it may be laid down that wherever inflammation 

 shows itself in an organ not vital, it may be left to nature, unless 

 matter forms in the shape of abscess, when it should immediately 

 be let out by making a free opening in a depending position with 

 a lancet. Some little knowledge of anatomy is necessary to per- 

 form this operation safely, as without it important vessels or 

 nerves may be divided ; but serious hemorrhage is so rare in the 

 dog, that little fear need be felt on this score. 



