ACUTE HYDROCEPHALUS. 129 



warm bath will also be useful in allaying spasm. When we 

 have reason to think that the gall-stones have been evacuated, 

 the patient should be ordered to take a course of vegetable bitters, 

 and occasionally alkalies; the diet should be light, and a sojourn 

 at some of the watering places should be recommended, when 

 circumstances will permit. 



DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM AND ITS 

 APPEMDAGES. 



HYDROCEPHALUS {CiCUte). 



Hydrocephalus is a name likely to mislead the student, as it 

 signifies merely dropsy of the brain ; whereas, the disease which 

 it is used to designate, is an acute inflammation of the brain 

 and its membranes, often, but not invariably, ending in serous 

 effusion. 



Predisposing causes. — The epochs of infancy and childhood 

 may be called predisposing causes, because, at these periods, the 

 great irritability of the nervous system disposes the cerebral cir- 

 culation to frequent excitement. A scrofulous diathesis is also 

 a powerful predisposing cause; and Dr. Cheyne attributes the 

 hereditary disposition to this cause; it, however, occurs as a 

 hereditary disease without a scrofulous taint existing. Fright and 

 anxiety in the mother, during the last months of utero-gestation, 

 predispose to it, the disease often appearing soon after birth. 

 Amongst the other causes enumerated are, premature application 

 to study; remittent and exanthematous fevers; syphilitic taint of the 

 parents ; application of cold to the head ; torpor of the secretory 

 system, &c. 



The exciting causes are, external injuries from blows, falls, &c., 

 concussions of the brain, from whirling or tossing the child; the 

 suppression of eruptions on the scalp, and behind the ears ; the 

 extension of inflammation from the ear; the retrocession of acute 

 eruptions, and suppression of chronic discharges ; the extension 

 of irritation to the membranes of the brain, from inflammation of 

 the pharynx, scalp, face, &c. ; too copious depletion in exanthe- 

 matous or other diseases ; metastasis' of various affections ; the 

 too free use of narcotics in young children, &c. 



This disease has usually been divided into periods^ or stages ; 



