FRACTURES OF THE CRANIAL BONES. 109 



causing the poor brute to be nearly mad with pain, and danger- 

 ous when any one approached its head. In all such cases the 

 proper treatment is to remove all loose fragments of bone, scrape 

 the surface of the crest, if in a necrosed condition, dress with the 

 dilute acid already recommended, and bring the flap into its 

 proper position, retaining it there by folds of wet cloth properly 

 adjusted upon the ears and poll. Sutures or plasters should not 

 be used, as they prevent the escape of any pus that may form. 



A form of bridle now in use at the pits belonging to the 

 Bowling Iron Company, near Bradford, is the best and most 

 effectual preventive that I have seen. It consists of a plain 

 bridle, having a piece of strong harness leather extending over, 

 and covering the forehead and poll, from about two inches 

 above the eyes to a distance of two or three inches behind the 

 ears, pierced with holes for the ears, and properly adjusted to 

 the peculiarity of each head. After the adoption of this simple 

 contrivance, broken heads did not again occur. It must be 

 kept pliable by frequent oiling, or it is apt to become hardened, 

 and to cause irritation at the base of the ears. 



CONCUSSION OF THE BRAIN. 



This is produced by a blow, or a fall upon the skull itself, or 

 a fall upon the nose, by which a sudden shock is communicated 

 to the brain throusrh the medium of the facial bones. In this 



o 



way cases have been recorded of fracture of the ethmoid bone. 

 Its symptoms are arranged in three stages — 1st. Collapse ; 

 2d. Eeaction ; Sd. Inflammation of the brain. 



First Stage, or Collapse. — In many instances, the functions of 

 the brain and organs of sense are suspended, so that conscious- 

 ness is entirely lost, with complete insensibility to external 

 impressions ; common sensation and voluntary motion are also 

 lost for the time ; this loss is often so great that the animal 

 gives no indication of pain when pricked with a pin or other 

 sharp instrument ; lies motionless upon the ground, or makes 

 a few faint struggles with the limbs ; but is altogether with- 

 out the ability of combining the action of the muscles, so as 

 to perform any particular movement. The extremities, and 

 surface of the body generally, are cold, the respiratory move- 

 ments feeble, but not usually stertorous; the pulse is weak, 



