28 THEORY AND PRACTICE 



is produced by reflex action. For example, the local irritation 

 of a nail prick in the navicular bursa causes pain. This is 

 transmitted to the brain by the efferent nerves, where this irri- 

 tation may stimulate the efferent nerves, and as a result be 

 carried to all parts of the body, causing an increase in the tem- 

 perature, in the frequency and hardness of the pulse, and in the 

 respiration. Eventually a general emaciation results. These 

 effects may be mild or they may cause death, but they all come 

 as the result of the action of some irritant. 



INFLAMMATION. 



A constitutional disturbance carried to the extreme always 

 produces inflammation. According to Gould inflammation 

 (Latin inflammare, to burn) is a condition of nutritive disturb- 

 ance, characterized by hyperaemia, with the proliferation of the 

 tissue cells, and attended by one or more symptoms of redness, 

 swelling, heat, pain, discoloration and disordered function. 



As a result the part may be very much discolored. 



To appreciate an inflammation keep in mind active conges- 

 tion ; it is impossible to have an inflammation without active con- 

 gestion, although we may have active congestion without inflam- 

 m.ation. Viscidity of the fluids of the blood and tissues plays 

 an important part. The increased fibrin causes bad results and 

 aggravates inflammatory tendencies. 



In inflammation the topical characteristics of active conges- 

 tion are exaggerated, more pain, burning and throbbing. The 

 proliferation of cells as the result of inflammation is seen in 

 the healing of wounds. It has been said by some that inflam- 

 mation cannot occur without cell proliferation, but I (Dr. Baker) 

 say that it can ; the process of inflammation may be going on 

 for hours before any proliferation of cells takes place. But 

 altered function is inseparable from inflammation; inflammation 

 cannot occur without altered function. 



Inflammation terminates by resolution when the inflammatory 

 deposits soften, liquefy and resolve, leaving no traces of the 

 disease behind. If anv trace is left, it is not resolution. 



