Page:Manual of pathological anatomy (IA manualofpatholog00jone).pdf/17

 MANUAL

OF

PATHOLOGICAL ANATOMY.

PART I.

GENERAL PATHOLOGICAL ANATOMY.

CHAPTER IL.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.

THE object of General Pathology is to examine the various morbid processes which may occur im the human body, and to obtain, thereby, such an insight into their nature, that they may not be looked on as uuknown entities, but that being comprehended as far as is possible themselves, the various offocts they produce, the par- ticular instances of their action, may be understood also.

The course we propose to follow is to describe briefly, (I.) The morbid alterations of the sevoral great functions. (I1.) Those of the blood, (III.) Whoso of the various tissues, considered gene- rally. (IY.) The superadded formations or growths, the so-called tumours. (V.) Parasitic beings, whether animal or vegetable.

Some general observations must, however, be premised. The term Morbid Anatomy hardly needs explanation; as ordinary anatomy implies the study of, and acquaintance with, the healthy structure, so morbid anatomy implies the same of diseased struc- ture. ‘Ihe meaning of Pathology may be clearly conceived, by considering that of its twin sister, Physiology; as the latter imports the knowledge of the natural actions of healthy organs, so does the former that of the unnatural actions of diseased or disturbed organs. Dhysiology has her vital stimuli; Pathology her stimuli or excitants to unhealthy life, ‘his expression brings us to notice �