The Rationale of the Administration of Mercurials. [Volume: 2, Issue: 6, January, 1861, pp. 315-318]

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THE DENTAL COSMOS.

To make my subject clearly understood, I must first be allowed to consider briefly the two pathological conditions-congestion and inflammation. In performing this task, we must bear in mind the circulatory
system, and with it the constituent elements of the blood-its rough anatomy, rather than its chemistry. In the investigations of microscopists, it
has been ascertained that there are two "stages" in every case of active
congestion: the stage of " incubation," and the stage of "actual development;" while in inflammation there are three: the stage of "incubation,"
"active congestion," and lastly, (as in active congestion,) the stage of
"actual development," or that pathological condition known as inflammation.
To illustrate: let the web of a frog's foot be wounded while under the
field of the microscope, and as the first result, there will follow an irregular circulation of the blood in the capillaries, which is neithe rcongestion
nor inflammation, but the immediate effects of the injury: probably upon
the nerves of the part, and so through them upon the capillary vessels.
This over-this irregularity-and there follows a short period in which
everything goes on in a normal manner, without any evidence of the violence done to the parts. This is termed the period of "incubation."
Then comes "active congestion," evinced by an increased afflux of bloodwith an acceleration of its velocity,-by the distention and tensity of the
vessels, the interruption of the secretion and absorption of lymph, the
apparent agglutination of the blood-globules into masses, and tumefaction
of the parenchyma of the web. This condition of things goes on increasing till inflammation is developed by the loss of capillary power, (contractility,) and the consequent dilation of these vessels, and from dilation
the establishment of "points of stagnation" in the current of blood.
Here, then, we get the morbid changes upon which active congestion and
inflammation depend; the former consisting in an increased flow of blood
to the part, with the consequences of such determination as already enumerated; while the latter consists in the dilatation of the capillaries
from loss of capillary powers, and the formation of "points of stagnation."
To the inquiring physician this revelation of the microscope is pregnant
with meaning, and, if not already correct, must produce a revolution in
all his notions of inflammation-cause him effectually to abandon the idea
that this pathological state is "increased activity of the circulation."
He thus revises his pathology; but, having seen the efficacy of mercurials,
he does not throw them away for something imaginary and untried, to
meet this new indication. No! But he studies anew and understandingly
the manner of their operation, and sees at once that where he formerly
gave mercury as a "revulsive," "to equalize the circulation," as a "stimulant," an "evacuant," etc., he now administers it to meet that important
indication-the restoration of the TONE of the capillaries. Reviewing