508 SPORADIC DISEASES. 



stupor, coma, immobility, or paralysis, depend upou the seat of 

 the congestion or inflammation at the time such symptoms are 

 manifest. For example, the coma and loss of function become 

 apparent when the brain proper is congested, or when pressed 

 upon by effusion ; the convulsions, tetanic spasms, and frenzy 

 when the pressure is not so great, and when, in all probability, 

 the membranes are the seat of the congestion or irritation ; 

 and paralysis of a part of the body, generally the posterior 

 extremities, when there is inflammation of the spinal cord and 

 its membranes. 



There are many pathological conditions of the brain which 

 give rise to symptoms of frenzy, such -as tumours, some non- 

 cognizable morbid poisons, urtemic poisoning, rabies, the irritation 

 of melanotic deposits, &c. ; but inflammation gives rise to loss of 

 function, and instead of the exalted condition, so graphically 

 described by Percivall, we have in true cerebritis stupor, coma, 

 and general paralysis. 



Mr. Gamgee describes a form of encephalitis in horned cattle 

 arising from alcoholism. The cases are reported by Mr. George 

 Dundas in the Edinburgh Veterinary Review. " The disease is 

 due to a practice, prevalent in some parts of Scotland, of giving 

 " burnt ale " to cows, in the neighbourhood of distilleries. The 

 ale is given by steeping straw in it ; and the animals will also 

 drink it freely. They often sleep soundly after such a beverage, 

 and sometimes symptoms of intoxication are manifest. The 

 symptoms are as follows : — The head is turned singularly to the 

 side, and is slightly elevated. The pupils are widely dilated, 

 and the eyes have a remarkably wild appearance. On approach- 

 ing the animals, they wink rapidly, and tremble. There is 

 marked heat of head, horns, and ears. When pressed with the 

 finger in the axilla they fall instantly, and when pulled by the 

 head they incline to turn over. The pulse is about seventy or 

 eighty per minute." 



" After death, all the organs are found healthy except the 

 nervous centres, and both brain and its membranes are found 

 congested. This congestion often extends into the spinal canal, 

 and the pia mater over both the brain and cord is the seat of 

 red spots. The redness is either ramified, or is obviously due 

 to blood extravasation. Clots of blood have been found in the 

 lateral ventricles, and around the spinal marrow in the cervical 



