The inability of pathologists to discover any definite physiological or pathological distinctions between different occasions of inflammation, has caused medical men to name it according to its localities, as ossitis, enteritis, bronchitis, bursitis, duodenitis, ileitis, jejunitis, colitis, proctitis, metritis, cystitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, trachitis, etc., throughout every tissue and organ of the body.

It should be quite obvious, to all but the most careless thinker, that the character of inflammation is not changed by the mere fact that it is located at different parts of the body. The different symptoms produced in different locations do not arise out of differences in the character of the inflammation, but out of the differences in the tissue or organ involved-- all of the differences are explained by reference to the structure and functions of the various tissues.

The suffix "itis," signifying inflammation, is affixed to the name of an organ or tissue and the word thus formed becomes the name of a disease. Pleuritis is inflammation of the pleura, peritonitis is inflammation of the peritoneum, synovitis is inflammation of the synovial membrane of a joint, phrenitis is inflammation of the brain, tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils, etc., etc. However, since there is no difference in inflammation, whatever its location, and, since these names only denote location, it is absurd to consider each location of inflammation as a disease.

Not content with naming inflammation of each organ, or of each general tissue--nervous, muscular osseos, glandular, serous, mucous, etc.,--a different and distinct, or specific "disease," they divide these into small localities and name inflammation in each as a special disease. Lining the entire respiratory and digestive tracts is one continuous mucous membrane, but inflammation at any given locality in this membrane is a separate "disease." It is even worse than this--inflammation of different tissues in the same organ receives different names and become different "diseases." Sciatica and neuritis and neuralgia, are familiar examples of this. The eye alone may have several different inflammatory "diseases." This produces too many "diseases"--they do not have enough germs to go around and are forced to create whole catalogues of ultra-microscopic germs to help them out.

While most medical men of the present recognize, theoretically, the constructive character of inflammation, they still work diligently to discover or devise some artificial means or process by which they may "control" or suppress it. Antiphologistics are still in use. For, in their ignorance, they still insist that inflammation is "disease."

When the true nature and purpose of inflammation is understood it is easily seen that it should not be treated or suppressed. If ever there is a time when partial suppression is justifiable, it is only when it is located in a hollow organ when it threatens to obstruct the organ and result in worse damage than will result from its partial suppression.

Cold applications (cold packs, ice bags) are usually preferred as agents with which to reduce inflammation. These "act" by occasioning a contraction of the blood vessels and forcing blood out of the inflamed area. The ice bag greatly devitalizes the tissues and reduces their resistance to infection.

Hot applications are frequently employed if the inflammation is internal. These reduce inflammation by producing a change in the blood supply to the organ over which they are placed, through the reflex nerve relation existing between the skin and the organ under it.

So-called counter-irritants, rubefacients, epispastics (blisters), and caustics, are used to produce the same internal reactions that hot applications produce. Friction and cupping are employed for this same purpose. Ammonia, chloroform, turpentine, camphor, menthol, capsicum, mustard, silver nitrate, chromium trioxide, pyrogallol copper sulphate, oil of peppermint, thymol and "the official clay poultice" antiphlogistine, are among the drugs employed to suppress inflammation. All of them have their local destructive action as well as their suppressive effects.

We get sick and we either live or die. The doctors of all schools can help us die. But the doctors of no school can help us live. The sick man, woman or child fights a lone battle in "disease" and succeeds or fails without aid, but usually with much interference.

The most trying ordeal through which the author ever passed was that of standing by the bedside of a dying baby while listening to the distracted mother implore him to save her child. No doctor can save a patient. The patient is able to save himself or he is not. If he is not, he dies. Only in rare cases, where surgery may remove a deadly secondary cause, is outside effort of aid. There may even be doubts about this kind of aid.

Every "disease" is a curative process, but not all "diseases" are devoid of danger. One of the things inflammation does is to cripple or suspend the special functions' of the inflamed parts. The process is protective, curative, first, last and all the time, but its location is often an element of grave danger. Inflammation of the brain or spinal cord may involve certain vital centers to such an extent that some vital function is suspended. The respiratory center may be involved and respiration suspended. Death follows. The cardiac center may be involved and heart action suspended. Death results. A bee sting on the eye lid closes the eye but is of no serious consequence. In a day or two the inflammation is gone and the eye opens. A bee sting on the glottis would quickly close the air passage, with no more inflammation than that which the sting causes on the eye lid, and the victim would die of suffocation. Not the nature and extent of the inflammation, but its location is the measure of its gravity. Bees do not sting the glottis but worse things than a bee sting may happen to it.

Inflammation of the heart may become so great that heart action ceases. Inflammation of the lungs may become so great that respiration ceases, or, the lungs may fill up with exudate. In diphtheria or membraneous croup, the false membrane may extend down into the bronchial tube and cut off breathing. Inflammation of the kidneys may become so great as to suspend the function of these and death from uremic poisoning result. In all this the inflammation is a curative process but accidentally located in a place that makes it a potential danger to life.

There is always danger in inflammation of the lungs of aged persons whose lungs are perhaps greatly weakened, or are very faulty in spots.

This is the reason absolute rest and quiet are so essential in pneumonia. Getting out of bed too soon may result in death. There is also danger to these people when inflammation develops in any of the vital organs that may be structurally unsound. Even in young people there may be unsound organs that may break under the strain.

Inflammation must develop where it is needed--whether in the hand or eyes, the lungs or brain, the heart or kidneys. It must become as great as the necessities of the case demand. Nature always tries to localize inflammation. She usually succeeds. Failure is due to feeding and drugging usually. All feeding should be stopped at the outset of any trouble. A few days of feeding when the trouble is only mild may be enough to cause death. Life is too precious to throw away for a few unwanted, unneeded and unenjoyable meals.