384 
ON INFLAMMATION. 
vessels and the effused matter upon the fibrils or terminations of 
the sensitive nerves: it and increased heat are the principal cha¬ 
racteristics to guide us to the seat of the disease in external inflam¬ 
mation in our patients. 
Inflammation is said to terminate in resolution, adhesion, effu¬ 
sion, suppuration, and mortification. I am inclined to think that 
termination is an improper term, as it gives us a false idea; for in¬ 
flammation does not always terminate w r hen these effects take 
place. 
Resolution .—Inflammation is said to terminate in resolution 
when the symptoms gradually abate, and finally disappear. It is 
not an actual return to health; ^it least the part does not always 
return to the state in which it was previous to the attack of in¬ 
flammation ; for we have some of the effused coagulable lymph 
still remaining, which, however, after a time, generally becomes 
absorbed, although too often a permanent thickening is left. Re¬ 
solution is the most favourable termination of inflammation; and 
it behoves us sedulously to endeavour to bring it about. 
Adhesion .—Inflammation terminates in adhesion on the surface 
of serous membranes ; the vessels of the inflamed part throw out 
a quantity of coagulable lymph on the serous surface, which forms 
bands of union between different portions of the membrane: 
this lymph finally becomes organized. It is wisely ordained by a 
beneficent Providence, that serous membranes should be more dis¬ 
posed to terminate in adhesion ; for had this been the case with 
mucous membranes, a common catarrh would very frequently 
produce death bv suffocation. 
Effusion .—When inflammation of a serous membrane has 
proceeded to such an extent that all chance of the more favour¬ 
able termination of resolution has g'one by, the exhalent vessels 
relieve themselves by throwing out a quantity of aqueous fluid, 
which often collects in great quantities in the cavities of the 
abdomen and thorax. 
Suppuration .—Suppuration consists of an effusion of pus into 
the surrounding cellular membrane. When a small quantity is 
thrown out it presses upon the neighbouring parts, and in some 
measure condenses them: the pus continues to be effused, and 
the neighbouring parts are more condensed and pushed aside; 
consequently the cavity in which the pus exists becomes en¬ 
larged. This process goes on until the purpose for which the 
pus was thrown out is accomplished, when by some inscrutable 
power the absorbents begin to act, and gradually remove the 
walls of the cyst, and that, whatever may interpose, almost uni¬ 
formly in a direction outward. It is useless to attempt to explain 
this wonderful power by any laws or any mechanism which the 
