194 Treatment of Vascular Diseases. 



sequences ; and as the consolidated blood is slowly removed 

 by absorption, the swelling of the part is removed, and the 

 disease cured. 



Section II. 



Aneurisms. 



When an old aneurismal sac is examined, it is found more 

 or less filled with portions of consolidated blood, which had 

 been deposited, at different times, and in concentric layers. 

 When this has occurred in small aneurismal swellings, and 

 the person is young and strong, the swellings may become 

 entirely filled up, and a radical cure be thus accomplished. 

 Such spontaneous cures are, however, very rare. In ordinary 

 circumstances, the force with which the blood is sent into the 

 sac, increases its boundaries ; while nature, with a salutary 

 effort at restoration, deposits layer after layer of consolidated 

 blood, which becomes so changed in its structure as some- 

 times to be reduced to a cartilaginous, and even bony 

 hardness ; while its internal surface, next the circulating 

 blood, becomes lined with a smooth membrane, similar to 

 that which lines the internal surface of vessels. It is suf- 

 ficient at present, after what has been before stated, to add 

 that such changes can only be produced by a higher than 

 ordinary vitality in the blood of the part. I conceive, no 

 other legitimate explanation can be afforded of such changes, 

 on those physiological principles which are generally ac- 

 knowledged : while the person continues strong, the de- 

 posit of consolidated blood is more copious, where it is out 

 of the influence of the current blood ; but as the disease 

 advances, and the person becomes weaker, the quantity of 

 blood in the sac increases, and becomes less vital, from 

 being more out of the course of the circulation ; while the 

 irritation of the sac consolidates in layers the blood next 

 it. For the same reason, as the sac approaches the surface, 





