27 



CHAPTER IL 



Injlmnmation. 



IT was supposed by the celebrated Boerhaave, 

 and other physiologists of his time, that in- 

 flammation depended on a viscidity of th.e 

 blood, which rendered it unfit for circulating 

 in the finer vessels ; and that hence arose 

 obstructions, and those appearances by which 

 the disease is characterised. This opinion, how- 

 ever, has obtained very little credit with modern 

 physiologists, and is now^ universally rejected ; it 

 having been proved, that blood drawn from an 

 animal labourincr under inflammation is more 

 fluid, and remains fluid longer, than that w^hich 

 is taken from the same animal when in health. 

 The most prevailing opinion at present re- 

 spectingv inflammation is, I believe, that it 

 consists in an increased action of the heart 

 and arteries, when general; whereby the 

 blood circulates with unusual velocity, throw- 

 insj the whole system hito derans:ement; and 



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