INDURATION OF THE BRAIN. 491 



preparations are of great value. Belladonna, in small doses 

 daily, continued for some time, seems also to have a bene- 

 ficial effect. From 3 to 5 grains of nux vomica have been 

 given daily for some time to horses with this affection. 

 Hertwig recommends croton oil as a drastic purgative in 

 this disease. Bleeding is injurious. Viborg recommends 

 the tincture of white hellebore. I have seen issues used 

 with advantage, applied along the spine ; and setons in the 

 neck have been long in use, but are of questionable ad- 

 vantage. 



SOFTENING OF THE BRAIN. 



The French word for softening, ramollissement, has been 

 applied to that condition of the brain in which its elements 

 lose their firmness and cohesion. Softening is usually a 

 result of inflammation, but it may be due to obstructions 

 to the arteries, a species of arterial plugging or embolism 

 which has been discovered often in the human cerebral 

 vessels, and no doubt occurs sometimes in the lower animals. 

 Softening of the brain substance may be connected with 

 suppuration after an injury, or, as the result of an attack of 

 phrenitis. Softening is usually a disease which attacks a 

 part of the brain, and is therefore attended with symptoms 

 indicating the loss of function of a particular part of the 

 cerebral system. Loss of vision on one side, paralysis of 

 the tongue, lips, and even of the muscles of the larynx, 

 inducing severe roaring, may be its symptoms. The cases 

 of softening due to arterial plugging and atheroma occur 

 usually in old animals. Softening is an incurable disease. 



INDURATION OF THE BRAIN. 



Occasionally as the result of inflammation, and chiefly to- 

 wards the surface of the brain, there is exudation and hard- 



