Page:A Treatise on the Membranes in General, and on Different Membranes in Particular.djvu/155

MORBID MEMBRANES. 151 Hitherto secured from this contact, most of the parts comprised in the solution of continuity possessed only organic sensibility, but that, by virtue of which each organ is nourished, appropriates its juices, and afterwards rejects them.

But from this time these same parts, contributing to form the surface of the body, should possess the sensibility of relation, that which transmits to the brain impressions received, and which is so unfolded in the cutaneous organ. Now, I have proved above, that the effect of inflammation in all the organs, commonly called insensible, is to transform in them organic sensibility, their only property, into the sensibility of relation, of which they are destitute in the natural state. This is doubtless the first advantage of this stage of the cicatrization of wounds.

246. Another advantage of inflammation in the commencement of wounds, is to dispose them to develop fleshy granulations. In truth we notice that this developement is in general in proportion to the increase of energy and action arising from the inflammatory state.

Thus each portion of the different organs takes a new life, is penetrated with more sensibility and tone, rises to a superior temperature, and becomes the centre of a small circulating system, independent of that of the heart.

In the centre of this display of powers, the fleshy granulations spring up and increase, for the production of which the natural powers would have been insufficient.