1824-.J Mr. Severn on Hydrocephalus. 



medical subjects, from the days of Hip- 

 pocrates down to tlic present time ; and 

 tlieir concurrent testimony proves, tliat 

 it is always preceded, and probably 

 CHUsed, by a state of eonsrestion in tlie 

 blood-vessels of the liead. Morgagni, 

 Drs. Beddoes, Percival, Withering, 

 Garnett, and others, give us this view 

 of the subject; and several cases, that 

 liave lately fallen under my notice, 

 strongly tend to corrol)oraie this o|)i- 

 nion. They furtiier agree, that, after 

 the well-known characteristic symptoms 

 prove that there is water accumulated 

 in the ventricles of the brain, the most 

 powerful remedies with which the sci- 

 ence of medicine can fuinisli us will be 

 insuffi<:ient to produce its re-absorption. 

 That the water is ell'used in consequence 

 of previous increased action is shown 

 from the state of blood drawn in 

 the earlier stages of this truly formida- 

 ble malady, and more certainly and 

 uniformly from those infallible appear- 

 ances which present themselves on dis- 

 section. The subjects of it have been 

 usually from one year and a half to 

 three years of age, when the constitution 

 is thrown into a state of general febrile 

 disorder by the process of denlilion, to 

 which I am disposed to attribute the 

 malady in question. I am, however, 

 ready to confess, that it sometimes oc- 

 curs at a time of life when no such 

 cause can be assigned. Dr. Fotliergill, 

 in the 4th volume of the Medical Ob- 

 servations and Enquiries, relates a case 

 in which Ihe patient was a female, aged 

 yO. And 1 recollect to have seen ano- 

 ther account of a young man, who, hav- 

 ing worked in a stooping posture, with- 

 out bis hat, exposed to tlie rays of the 

 sun in a tan-yard, was seized with hydro- 

 cephalus. It is frequently remarked, 

 that several children in a family fall vic- 

 tims to it; and, when such families are 

 aware of this tendency, they should 

 procure the earliest and most effica- 

 cious assistance, whenever any symptom 

 indicates the approach of this dreadful 

 malady. 



The children affected by hydrocepha- 

 lus have been commonly active and 

 healthy prior to the seizure, which com- 

 mences with the usual symptoms of 

 fever, pains of the head, and sickness. 

 If these are not relieved by proper re- 

 medies, the breathing becomes labori- 

 ous, the pulse slower than natural, and 

 often irregular; the pupils arc dilated, 

 frequently the diameter of one exceeds 

 that of the other ; the little suflerers fall 

 into a state of slupur, unconscious of 

 whatever passes around them ; and 



death, at the end of four or five days 

 after their insensibility, closes the me- 

 lancholy scene. The near approach of 

 a lighted candle produces no contrac- 

 tion of the iris, the retina being para- 

 lyzed by superincumbent fluid pressing 

 on the thalami nervorum opticomm. 



The time at which medical assistance 

 may be effectual, is prior to the efliision 

 of wafer into the ventricles of the brain ; 

 after which, little benefit is to he ex- 

 pected from the best-directed measures. 

 In the early stage of the disease is good 

 to be done, by removing that conges- 

 tion, and arresting the progress of that 

 inflammatory action which would pro- 

 duce a secretion of water; fur let it be 

 remembered, that, when once efi'used, 

 its removal is impossible. As soon, 

 therefore, as increased action takes 

 place, not a moment should be lost, in 

 abstracting blood by means of leeches 

 applied to the temides, or by opening 

 tiie jugular vein. Blisters should be 

 applied between the shoulders, and 

 active doses of calomel, with jalap, or 

 scammony, administered. 



CuARLiis Severn. 



Manor-row, Tower-hill. 



For the Monthly Magazine. 



ACCOUNT of ihe CASSINIS. 



THE name of the Cassinis has been 

 long known among the learned, 

 but less particularly among the diiler- 

 ent descriptions of general readers. The 

 following article, by M. Merlin, which 

 contains some historical observations, 

 sufficiently characteristic of those per- 

 sons and their labours, will be found 

 to be authentic, and by no means unin- 

 teresting. 



The first of the Cassinis (names be- 

 come popular in Europe from their 

 contributions to the progress of mathe- 

 matical geography,) was born at Peri- 

 naldo, in the diiehy of Nice. His use- 

 ful improvements on tbe speculations of 

 his predecessors, in astronomical sci- 

 ence, recommended him to the senate of 

 Bologna, who a/)|)ointed liim profes.sor of 

 it in the university of that city. In this 

 situation he completed a very accurate 

 and important work, determining the 

 meridian of St. Petrona, which was 

 only the GOO.OOOth i)art of the circum- 

 ference of the earth, and preluded to Iiis 

 determination of that of France. 



Althou;;h asfroiumiy was the ruling 

 passion of John Dominic Cassini, he 

 possessed all the information requisite 

 for undertakings of a various description. 

 To his conduct, as the leading person 

 employed in it, was referred the settling 



of 



