A treatise on the blood, inflammation, and gun-shot wounds (Volume 2).

  • John Hunter
Date:
1796
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A treatise on the blood, inflammation, and gun-shot wounds (Volume 2). Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    is Icfs ; For we find in many ftates of parts, and many conftitutions, that there is a difpofition to this fympathy, and in fuch, the inflammation fpreads in proportion. I. ACTION OF THE VESSELS IN INFLAM- MATION. The a£t of inflammation would appear to be an in- creafed adion of the vefl^els *, but whatever a£lion it is, it takes place, mod probably in the fmaller veflek, for it maybe confined almoft to a point where nothing but the fmalleft veflels exift. The larger veflels may \)e confider- ed as only the conveyors of the materials, for the fmaller to a£l upon and difpofe of according to the different in- tentions ; however, inflammation in a part, is not only an adion of the fmaller veflels in the partitfelf, but in the larger veflels leading to it. This is proved by a whitlow taking place on the end of a finger -, for although the in- flammation itfelf fhall be confined to the end of a finger, and the inflammatory fenfation or throbbing be fituated in this part, yet we can feel by our hands, when we graf]-) the finger, a ftrong pulfation in the tv/o arteries leading to the inflamed part, while no fuch pulfation can be felt in the other fingers ; and if the inflammation is very con- fiderable, the artery, as high as the wrift, will be fenfibly afFe£l:ed, which proves that the arterial fyftcm is at that time dilating itfelf, and allowing a much larger quantity of blood to pafs than is ufual. This is probably by conti- nued fympathy. Where the inflam.mation aflefts the conftitution, the vefl~els of the fyftem rather contrail:, and keep as it were ftationary, which fl:ationary contra<Stion is more or lefs ac- cording to the fcate of the confliitution j in ftrorg healthy ♦ It may be here remarked, that ths aftion of veflels is commonij fuppofed to be contraftion, cither by their elaftic or mufcular coats ; but I have fhewn that their dafllc power alfo dilated them; an.l I have reafon to believ'- tip ni„i;ular power has a fiaiiiar eiFedt.
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