GENERAL PATHOLOGIC CHANGES 161 



Massage is an important adjunct to healing in non-infectious in- 

 flammations, but is contra-indicated in septic conditions, as it tends 

 to relax the tissues and thus allow resorption of toxic products. 



Counterirritants are used for deep-seated inflammations. 

 They stimulate blood circulation and are very important aids in 

 veterinary medicine. They are applied as blisters, or the actual 

 cautery in the form of the flring iron, to hasten the process by trans- 

 forming a chronic into an acute inflammation. 



Antiseptics are valuable in treating septic inflammation. For 

 this purpose camphor, carbolic acid, and iodin are especially 

 recommended. 



The termination of inflammation depends upon the amount of 

 injury to the tissues. When the irritant is removed and the in- 

 flammatory product is entirely absorbed, resolution follows and 

 the part fully regains its normal functions. The production of 

 new growths, adhesions between organs, and the retention of an 

 exudate in a cavity are other forms in which inflammation may 

 terminate, but they always interfere more or less with the functional 

 activities. In severe disturbances of the circulation gangrene or 

 death of the tissues occurs."^ 



FEVER 



Fever, like inflammation, is to be regarded as a natural reaction 

 of the body designed for protection. It is a symptom of disease 

 rather than a specific affection. All infectious diseases are ushered 

 in with a rise in the body temperature, which makes this symptom 

 the most reliable guide for the diagnosis of diseases due to microbic 

 invasion. 



The cause of fever is not definitely known. However, any dis- 

 turbance in the thermal center at the base of the brain may result 

 in elevation of the body temperature. In health this center har- 

 monizes the forces for heat production, heat dissipation, and heat 

 regulation. When the products of bacteria or the organisms them- 

 selves gain entrance to the fluids of the body, they irritate the 

 thermal center and lead to its deadening. Examples of infec- 

 tious fevers are those caused by the micro-organisms of strangles 

 and glanders. In other cases fever occurs without the intervention 

 of bacteria from the resorption of products resulting from the disin- 



' The student should compare this section with that on the Termination 

 of Disease. 



11 



