480 Observations on the medical effects 



Section I. 



Accidental Congestions in which the tourniquets may be 

 employed. 



The movements and the local determinations of blood in 

 parts are regulated by forces in the capillary vessels, indepen- 

 dent of the action of the heart, which exercise an important 

 influence on nutrition, and on the secretions in the part as 

 well as its sympathies with other organs. This local conges- 

 tion, or loss of balance in the circulation, sometimes occurs 

 at particular periods of life, and in different parts and classes 

 of vessels, and under various states of health and disease. 

 The acute form of congestions is produced by a certain de- 

 gree of stimulus to the vessels of the part, from the influence 

 of the cause upon the nerves, or their connection with the 

 part affected. This cause may be mental emotions, which 

 affect particular organs or parts, through the nervous system ; 

 as in blushing, &c. This form of congestion is attended with 

 unfavourable effects when the organ is important, or the 

 disease severe ; when it produces symptomatic fever, and an 

 increased secretion in the part, or haemorrhage ; and in some 

 cases, when it obstructs the function of the brain and other 

 organs. 



The treatment of congestions will depend upon their cause, 

 their degree, and particularly their nature. When the disease 

 is superficial, the rapidity with which the blood returns to the 

 part, in a state of congestion, indicates its degree of acute- 

 ness. This is found to exist in every degree, until we arrive 

 at the state of inflammation. Such variations necessarily 

 require a corresponding modification in the remedies employ- 

 ed for the removal of all disease, or if the constitution is strong 

 and healthy, the congestion will yield to the natural powers 

 of the system; but under less favourable circumstances, it 

 will require medicine for its removal. 



