ON INFLAMMATION. 385 
mind of man can imagine: it is a power conferred by One who 
orders all things right. 
Mortification, Gangrene, ox Sphacelus. —These three terms are 
nearly synonymous, except that by sphacelus we generally mean 
the mortification or death of a whole limb, whilst gangrene is 
more circumscribed. Mortification is the death of a part. Pre¬ 
vious to mortification debility takes place; the vessels become so 
overloaded with blood that they cannot contract on their con¬ 
tents, and consequently congestion really occurs: the blood 
coagulates in the capillaries, and vital action gradually ceases. 
When a part is thus dead, it soon acts as a foreign body. The 
absorbents then set to w ork, and remove a portion of the sub¬ 
stance immediately surrounding the dead part, or between it 
and the living, and it becomes detached, and falls off. This pro¬ 
cess is technically called sloughing. There is a wise provision 
to prevent any haemorrhage when the part is detached; for the 
blood does not-merely coagulate in the capillaries of the part 
which is to be thrown off, but also in the vessels a little within 
the sound part 5 thus these vessels are completely plugged up, 
and all haemorrhage is prevented. 
Treatnfent in order to produce Resolution .—Referring to the 
definition of inflammation, the first indication of treatment, is to 
lessen the supply of blood to the part inflamed; therefore it is 
requisite to abstract blood. Our sheet-anchor in inflammation is 
venesection, and almost every thing depends upon a prompt and 
free use of the lancet. We shall find great benefit in local 
bleeding; for we are then drawing blood from the labouring 
.vessels themselves, and thus giving them a little respite; and 
even the slight rest which local bleeding gives them, will have 
considerable effect in restoring them to their proper tone. Next 
to bleeding' stands purgation in the list of remedies for inflam¬ 
mation. Purging acts as a sedative; it produces a degree of 
nausea, by which the circulation is diminished ; and it also lessens 
materially the quantity of the circulatory fluid. In local inflam¬ 
mation, fomentation will be found highly beneficial. The appli¬ 
cation of w arm w ater will open the pores of the skin, and thus 
induce perspiration ; the exnalent vessels wull get rid of much 
matter by this process: but if fomentations are negligently or 
improperly applied, they will be productive of mischief instead 
of benefit, as evaporation w ill take place, and reduce the tempe¬ 
rature of the part, and the vessels will be constringed instead of 
relaxed, and the sudden alternation of cold and heat will 
weaken the vessels, and dispose to disease. 
Cold applications, however, are often very useful in local in¬ 
flammation : they act by depriving the inflamed part of some 
vol. iv. 3 a ' 
