382 
ON INFLAMMATION. 
the horn has a cavity running- through it, containing a highly sen- 
sible and vascular membrane 5 and severe haemorrhage is a frequent 
consequence of fractures cr divisions of the horn near its basis. The 
supply of nerves is demonstrable anatomically, and by the effect 
of a severe blow near the root of the horn, which nearly dis¬ 
ables the most powerful animal. The horns of cattle are not 
regenerated usually; but attempts to that effect have been made 
when sawn off at its root. They are evidently intended as instru¬ 
ments of offence. It should have been stated above, that the 
osseous part of their texture appears to be a continuation of the 
immense diploe existing between the two tables of the cranium 
in horned cattle, and that the horns arise from the sides of the 
frontal bone. 
#> 
Before the reader proceeds to the essay on “ Inflammation, ' it 
may be necessary to state, that I had drawn up for my own 
guidance, or for production at the meeting after the examination, 
if it had been required, a sketch of the kind of essay that I 
expected on each of the three subjects proposed. After these 
essays had been given in, and carefully put away, and not a line 
of them examined, I inserted in the last Veterinarian, under 
my usual assumed signature, the first portion of that essay, of 
course embodying the doctrines taught in my lectures. This 
will account for the similarity between that paper and Mr. Simp¬ 
son's essay, a similarity of which I am justly proud. The 
seeming repetition of illustration and argument will be forgiven 
by those who admire youthful genius and industry ; and if the 
master has sometimes been beaten, it is with his own weapons 
and by his own pupil, and he does not mind that. 
ON INFLAMMATION, BY MR. SIMPSON. 
Inflammation is an increased action of the capillaries, in conse 
quence of some morbid excitation of the nerves of organic life. 
These minute vessels are not in a state of debility. There is no 
congestion in them ; the very essence of inflammation is increased 
action of the capillaries, which not only receive more blood, but 
actually propel more blood through them. The muscular coat of 
the tube is first excited to increased action ; it contracts forcibly 
upon its contents, propelling the contained fluid into the con¬ 
tinuous veins. When the muscular coat has thus contracted, the 
external coat immediately shews its principle of elasticity, and 
regains its former calibre with a velocity equal to that with which 
the muscular coat contracted; thus a fresh supply of blood is re¬ 
ceived by a principle of derivation. After a few of these contrac¬ 
tions and dilatations, the artery supplying the capillaries which 
