Page 123 - My FlipBook

INFLAMMATION. 121
in the chronic form, being especially marked in loose connective
tissue.
The Pain of inflammation, which is persistent, and increased
bv pressure, motion, or exercise, is mainly due to mechanical
pressure upon the nerve-filaments ; and exercise increases the ar-
terial tension and augments the pain. Every tissue is supplied
u'ith sensory nerves, and the pain resulting from irritation and
injury varies considerably, in accordance with the nature of
the part and its supply of nervous filaments. Parts having little
sensibility in a normal condition, often become extremely painful
when inflamed ; the gums afford a well marked example. When
the parts are unyielding, as in periodontitis, the pain becomes
very severe ; and a pulsating or throbbing pain is caused by the
increased force of the smaller vessels conveying the blood to the
focus of inflammation, and also the obstruction of the circulation
produced by the swelling and increased by the stasis at the focus
of the affected area. When the veins of an inflamed part become
obstructed by the swelling, bringing about pressure to such a
degree as to prevent the blood from passing through them, the
quantity being constantly increased by the supply from the arter-
ies, a condition of strangulation results, in which the pain is very
severe.
We find an example of this condition of strangulation in pul-
pitis, or inflammation of the pulps of the teeth. Pain is also gener-
ally present, even in the case of soft tissues affected with inflamma-
tion, and where every advantage is afforded for their swelling ; the
oral mucous membrane is an example. There is also pain of an
itching character, in certain forms of inflammation of mucous mem-
branes ; also boring pain in the neighborhood of joints. The pain
of alveolar abscesses, when they slowly form, is often of a tensive
character, and generally becomes lancinating when they are about
to point; and in all such cases is useful in determining the seat
of the suppurative process. At times the pain is reflected to parts
remote from the seat of inflammation, as otalgia in pulpitis, etc.
The acute form of inflammation may change to the subacute
and finally to the chronic, examples of which are presented in the
different stages of pulpitis and periodontitis. The constitutional