IN FLAMM A′TION

Syn. Inflammatio , L. In pathology , a certain state of disease. The common symptoms of inflammation are pain, swelling, heat, and redne , attended with fever, and general constitutional derangement when severe. The treatment of inflammations, whether trifling; or serious, is e entially the same in principle, and only differs in degree. This consists in the adoption of the usual means for lowering the force of the circulation and the frequency of the pulse; of which leeching, purging, a low diet, and the use of refrigerant drinks and lotions, form the most important part. The constitutional derangement or symptomatic inflammatory fever, and inflammatory condition of the blood always accompany local inflammation, and progre with its intensity. In inflammations of a more purely local character, cupping or leeching the part immediately affected, or the parts adjacent to it, is in general more appropriate and succe ful. In these cases the application of refrigerant or sedative lotions, baths, ., generally proves of much advantage. In cases in which there is induration or dryne of the part, the use of warm embrocations is indicated. Inflammation often arises from apparently very trifling causes, particularly in persons of a full or bad habit of body, or who indulge in the free use of malt liquors. In some persons a very trifling local injury, as a slight abrasion, cut, prick, or sprain, produces a considerable amount of tumefaction, attended with severe constitutional excitement. Punctured wounds, sprains, and dislocations commonly furnish the most serious cases of inflammation that depend on mere external injury. [359] See Absce , Fever , Tumour , . [359] In all inflammatory cases of a serious nature, the reader is strongly advised to commit himself to the care of a medical practitioner.