222 Progress of Rational Pathology. 



to this mechanical explanation : for instance, absorption of pus 

 into the pulmonic circulation ought always to produce ab- 

 scesses in the lungs 5 and the capillary circulation ought to 

 be obstructed by an excess of large lymph globules, as well 

 as by pus, and we thus find ourselves thrown back on the 

 old humoral pathology. Thus Stannius and Pirogoff as- 

 cribe to the pus globules an irritative action on the coats of 

 the veins, Engel compares them to the minute fungi of fer- 

 mentation, and assumes that they have the power to convert 

 the blood into a state of purulent fermentation. But every 

 view of the action of the pus globules on the blood must 

 remain hypothetical, till their presence in it is proved. 



I. — Inflammation and regeneration of special textures and 



organs. 



a. Bones. — In well-set fractures of bones that are rich in 

 vessels, consolidation takes place without any exsudation be- 

 tween the periosteum and the bone, simply by exsudation 

 from the broken surfaces (Lambron). Heine's preparations 

 of regenerated bones have refuted Miescher's opinion that 

 their re-production proceeds only from the substance of the 

 bone, in as much as whole bones excised along with their 

 periosteum have been reproduced, although in an imperfect 

 manner. Klencke observed the formation of new diaphyses 

 in the hollow bones of doves through the medium of the soft 

 parts. The regenerated osseous substance was hard, white, 

 and less vascular than ordinary bone. Textor confirms 

 Heine's observation, that the compact part of the hollow 

 bones is easily reproduced, but not the articular extremities : 

 he found in their place in the larger joints a kind of meniscus, 

 to which bands from the bones and muscles in the neigh- 

 bourhood were attached. Karawajew also observed the 

 complete reproduction from the periosteum of an excised 

 piece of rib, some inches long. Unhealthy inflammations and 



