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EXTRACTS FROM FOREIGN JOURNALS. 
15 to 20,000. It is, therefore, threefold and quadruple more than 
in a normal state. One may say, generally, that it is greater, as 
the disease is more truly inflammatory, whether it is idiopathic or 
symptomatic. 
Relatively to the march of this phenomenon, the following 
facts are observed: 
1st. The increase of the number of white globules takes place 
from the beginning of the disease and reaches, regularly or by 
degrees, a maximum which corresponds to the period of maturity 
of the affection; that is, for instance, with the suppuration in 
cases of suppurative inflammation. 
2d. In decreasing phlegmasies, the number of white corpus¬ 
cles diminishes in following closely the march of the disease. 
3d. In suppurative inflammation, it diminishes immediately 
when pus comes out to the surface, to increase again when this is 
followed by secondary suppurative process. 
4tli. In the beginning of convalescence from truly acute forms 
of disease, one often sees, for a variable length of time, though 
short, (one, two, three days), the number of the white corpuscles 
diminish sensibly below the normal, before reaching definitely the 
physiological average. 
This augmentation does not exclusively belong to acute phleg¬ 
masies with rapid evolution. If in these conditions it reaches its 
highest development, it nevertheless remains well marked in sub¬ 
acute and chronic affections, whether they be suppurative or only 
parenchymatous. 
II. Hematies .—The numerical variations of red globules in 
phlegmasies depend on various conditions, and are, consequently, 
so irregular, that it is difficult to include them in a general de¬ 
scription. One may say, however, that acute inflammation of eight 
or ten days’ standing (pneumonia for instance) produces almost 
always a loss of from 200,000 to 1,000,000 of red corpuscles for 
one cubic millimeter. But this estimate is not absolute, as it 
could not be made out before the return of the number in perfect 
health. 
It is at the moment of effervescence that the number of hema¬ 
ties reaches its minimum. It increases irregularly and more or 
