TRANSLATIONS FROM CONTINENTAL JOURNALS. 
343 
Annales de Medecine Veterinaire , Bruxelles, Jan., 1859- 
ON CONGESTION. 
By M. S. Verheyen, Professor, &c. 
(Continuedfrom page 285.) 
SymptomoJogy .—The four cardinal symptoms of inflamma¬ 
tion are also those of hyperaemia. In the first stages, red¬ 
ness, swelling, pain, and heat, are the characteristics of active 
congestion, and are found in all important cases of this 
nature. These phenomena are accompanied by increased 
pulsation and functional and nutritive derangement. The first 
characteristic is the vascular injection. The parts which are 
accessible to direct observation present always the small 
arteries and veins gorged with blood, as may be seen in the 
cornea, which constitutes the redness. This may be diffused 
or circumscribed. The redness does not depend solely on 
the dilatation and engorging of the capillaries, but also on 
the red corpuscles of the blood, which no longer circulate 
exclusively in the centre of the vessels, their dissemination 
being uniform in the plasma. The accumulation in the 
vessels will necessarily increase the size of the parts affected 
with hyperaemia; but the exudation has the greatest share 
in the tumefaction. The pressure on the capillaries favours 
the effusion of the blood into the interstices of the tissues. 
In parts where the exudation can escape externally, or in a 
gland where it mixes with the secretion, the tumefaction 
is not usually great, but rather very insignificant. On the 
contrary, it is very considerable in the spongy parts. It also 
becomes nil in those organs where the absorbents take 
up the effused fluids. The pain is caused by the pres¬ 
sure and irritation of the effused matter on the nerves. 
The more an organ affected w 7 ith hyperaemia is susceptible 
of expansion, the less will be the pain, but it acquires a great 
intensity in those where the tissues are compact and close. 
Increased weight will have the same effect in producing 
intense suffering. Compression will in these cases greatly 
relieve the pain. 
The symptom of heat is sensible to the feel of the hand 
on exploring the part, but it is best ascertained by the 
aid of a thermometer applied to the external parts which 
are the seat of hyperaemia. It has for its primary source 
the afflux of arterial blood to the distended vessels, as 
