CHAPTER XXXIX. 



SrOEADIC J) ISEAS^^— contimied. 



LOCAL J)1SE ^SES—coni^mled. 



(B.) CEPHALIC DISEASES. 



INFLAMMATIOX OF THE BRAIN SUBSTANCE— CEREBEITIS. 



This is a very rare affection, and its occurrence can onlj be 

 proved by post mortem examinations. Mr. Gamgee says that it 

 is impossible in practice to distinguish between inflammation of 

 the brain — cerebritis, and inflammation of its coverings — menin- 

 gitis. In this he is so far correct; but pure cerebritis does 

 occur, if we are to look upon the formation of abscesses in the 

 white substance of the cerebrum as evidences of inflammation. 



I have seen two cases which presented this appearance post 

 mortem, and another, that had all the symptoms of cerebral 

 abscess, and recovered, but was peculiar in its motions and 

 action, had epileptic fits, was unable to back, turned with diffi- 

 culty, and moved its limbs automatically as long as it lived. 



The three cases mentioned were suffering, or were recovering 

 from strangles, the advent of the brain symptoms succeeding to 

 the formation of the abscesses in the intermaxillary space. In 

 the two that died, the symptoms were, great drowsiness, slowness 

 of the pulse, inability to masticate food, although a desire to eat 

 still remained, staggering gait, dragging of the feet, and subse- 

 quently coma, with stertorous breathing, amaurosis, paralysis, 

 embracing the muscles of the head, trunk, and extremities, rapid 

 sinking, and death. In one case the voluntary muscles were 

 quite flaccid, and were incapable of any movement ; whilst in 

 the other some contractile power still remained, and now and 

 then feeble struggling would take place. It was able to move 



