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INFLAMMATION. 123

process, and the characteristic fever has almost disappeared, a
chill suddenly occurs, followed by profuse perspiration, the con-
dition known as pyemia is present — pus globules in the blood.
Exudation.—Exudation is a process by which the corpuscular
elements of the blood and the liquor sanguinis pass through the
walls of the blood vessels into the tissues beyond, and results from
changes in the walls of the vessels, which permit the oozing of
the blood through their walls— " the loss of the power by the
vessels of resistance to dilatation, and the loss of vital power, in
consequence of which leakage takes place." The symptom of
swelling is in great part due to exudation. The exudation in
what is termed " healthy inflammation," and known as plastic or
coagulable lymph., seen on the surface of a recent wound or in the
form of swelling around a centre of imflammation, is a mild and
unirritating product, the function of which is to form new tissues
for repair, called at first granulations. Inflammatory exudations
from free surfaces of mucous membranes contain mucus, and
a substance known as mucin., in the form of filaments, insoluble
in acetic acid. The inflammatory effusion known as plastic or
coagulable lymph., the true indicator of a healthy constructive proc-
ess, is soon converted from a jelly-like substance, by the germinal
power, into a mass of living cells, through which other minute
cells, which are to form the capillaries, make their way like a small
stream, the primitive living cells flattening out, and making walls,
apparently, for the forming vessels. These new capillaries pen-
etrate the mass of germinal cells in large numbers, like delicate
connecting threads, and furnish the blood supply to the organ-
izing mass, which becomes converted into new or young connec-
tive tissue. This tissue drawing and binding together the opposite
sides of the wound then becomes the cicatricial tissue, which
originates from the cement-like material furnished by the inflam-
matory exudation. The cicatricial tissue becomes invested, in
the case of oral mucous membrane, with epithelium, bv a similar
process of cell growth and development ; and this is the process
of union by the first intention. The cicatrix or scar is redder
than natural, owing to the large number of vessels : but when the
supply of blood is no longer needed in such quantity as is at first