[74] It is very seldom that a stump unites at first, if amputation be performed on account of mortification; at least if the operation be not delayed until the health and strength be fully re-established: But this can very seldom be the case; for, in most cases, the state of the bones, and the disease of the part itself, prevents recovery from taking place beyond a certain degree, and also prevents us from delaying beyond a limited time. The system, therefore, is not allowed to recover fully from the tendency to the action of descent, and union does not take place. In the case which was formerly mentioned, the first stump did not adhere fully, but the second succeeded better, because then the system suffered more from the state of the diseased bones, &c. than from the previous mortification, and, therefore, it had not the same inability to undergo the healing action. _Of the Treatment of the Inflammatio Assuefacta._ After the inflammatio valida has continued for a considerable time, if neither suppuration, nor any other termination be induced, it is very apt to be converted into the state which has been called passive inflammation, or which, on account of its most frequent cause, I have called the inflammatio assuefacta. This action is, in several respects, different from the acute inflammation, and resembles it only in its general appearance. It may therefore, in one respect, be considered as a termination of inflammation, being, strictly speaking, a new action, or spurious inflammation. This action succeeds the acute inflammation, sooner or later, in different places; and, when once induced, each succeeding inflammation of the same part is apt very quickly to terminate in the same condition; or, if the renewal of the inflammation be very frequent, this is at last induced without any previous acute inflammation. A state somewhat similar to this, if not exactly the same, precedes acute inflammation, as well as follows it; for, during the period which intervenes betwixt the first formation of the action and its perfection, the part remains in this state. We can sometimes observe the augmentation and diminution of the redness and pain during the systole and diastole of the arteries; and, by the use of the same remedies which cure the inflammatio assuefacta, we can sometimes prevent the farther progress of the disease. Thus, pepper boiled in milk, is frequently used by the country people as a cure for cynanche, during its incipient stage. Bleeding, saturnine applications, and the other remedies which are useful in the inflammatio valida et acuta, are hurtful here, and increase the disease. The agentes similes, on the contrary, are useful, and may be used internally, or topically. Internally, the bark, wine, and opium, with good diet, ought always to be employed, if the part affected be very delicate, and sympathise greatly with the constitution, or if the extent of the disease be great.