f > aed 
bled confiderably, as may well be fuppofed. He remained ex- 
pofed to the open air for near three hours after, and had not 
fo much as a bit of rag to cover it. Fever and inflamma- 
tion of the brain might reafonably be apprehended; yet, by a 
couple of bleedings, and fome other antiphlogiftics, the man 
was completely cured in five weeks, without exfoliation or the 
fmalleft operation. To this fhall I add an inftance given by 
La Motte*, of a man who received a blow of a fabre on the 
right parietal bore, which divided the longitudinal .finus, and 
the left parietal, extending almoft from ear to ear; and yet this 
man recovered without any operation. 
Havine difpofed of the above very interefting queftions, we 
fhall now remark on fuch fractures as neceffarily require the 
operation in the jirft inflance. 'Thefe are fractures accompanied 
with deprefion, with or without wounds. For, not to advert to 
the reftraint fuch preffure muft neceflarily caufe to the motion 
of the brain, fufficient in itfelf to produce fatal effects, if the 
depreffed parts be pointed and fharp, as is moftly the cafe, acting 
againft the uniform pulfation of the brain, the membranes muft 
in fome time be cut through, and the brain itfelf wounded, 
and. whilft this tragic work is going on, we have no fymptoms 
to indicate the approaching danger till it is paft remedy. The 
two following inftances contrafted will explain and juftify this 
pofition. 
CASE 
* Traité complete de Chirurgiz, t. il. p. 343. 
