154 



VETERINARY PATHOLOGY. 



2. \'ai-ieties.— Inflammatory exudates inpy be serous, fibrin- 

 ous, or hemorrhagic. 



a. A serous exudate continues in the fluid state as long as it 

 remains in the tissues or tissue spaces. It is composed almost 

 entirely of fluid, having very few cells. This variety of ex- 

 udate is characteristic of mild inflammatory conditions. The 

 constancy of the fluidity of the serous exudate is the result of 

 the action of enzyms that continually convert the albuminous 

 substances into soluble compounds as proteoses and peptones. 



b. Inflammatory fibrinous exudate contains two enzyms, one 

 of which (leucoprotase) is active in an alkaline medium and 

 the other in an acid medium. "These enzyms probably exert 

 their greatest activity in a neutral medium, slight changes in 

 reaction increasing digestion by the one, and suspending di- 



gestion bv the other." In suppuration the acid digesting enzym 

 probablv disappears (Barker). A fibrinous exudate is one 

 that coagulates within the tissues or tissue spaces. The coagu- 

 lation of the exudate is identical with the coagulation of blood 

 and is probal)lv due to the liberation of fibrin forming enzyms 

 from disintegrated leucocytes. Fibrinous exudate is the variety 

 observed in inflammation resulting: from severe irritation. The 

 exudate usually contains many cells and a large amount L>f 

 proteids. 



c. Hemorrhagic exudates are those in which the red blood cells 

 as well as leucocytes and plasma have passed through the ves- 

 sel walk This exudate coagulates the same as the fibrinous 



