The bullet wound was near the hip, and in making the examination was found to be very much inflamed. George was present, and inquired: “What is it that causes the inflammation?”
Fig. 2.
“The local inflammation near the wound is produced by the tissues absorbing blood in excess, and the result is that the vessels containing the blood are so modified as to permit an unusually large amount of the watery portion of the blood to pass through the walls of the veins and arteries. This entirely disorganizes the orderly manner of carrying out the function of the blood, and it is shown by the high fever and redness exhibited.”
“Is that the same as blood poisoning?”
“That is quite a different matter. This man has what is called septic fever, which is produced by an infection of the system from bacterial germs, which were produced by the wound, so that the blood carried the germs throughout the body, and produced what is called a toxic condition. Toxic means poison, or poisoned state. When the blood is thus affected it is unable to do its proper duty, and a high heat is produced within.”
“But why is it that he has chills and then a fever?”
“During the time that the fever is rising the heat produced exceeds the heat lost. If the rise is very rapid, as in this case, the blood is withdrawn from the skin, and this withdrawal diminishes the loss of heat, which gives rise to a cold sensation or chill, and is combined, very frequently, with an attack of shivering.”
It was not considered advisable for either of the boys to remain in the tree during the night, and as soon as it was dark Tom and Harry, who were then on watch, descended, and preparations were made for the night watch.
Shortly after midnight, John took only one of the guns, and also selecting one of the bows, and several arrows, from those which were taken from the wounded captives, started out on a tour of investigation.