6 CONCUSSION. 



ordered him to be put in slings, and to have hot fomentations applied to his 

 head and neck : this, giving relief, was persevered in for twelve hours. By 

 way of experiment, Mr. C. took a sponge filled with cold water, and wetted 

 the head with it, which, singular enough, caused the former symptoms of 

 coma to return. From this, Mr. C. infers, " it would seem that warm water 

 should always be had recourse to in inj uries of the brain." " In this case there 

 seemed to be concussion of the organ : what confirms this opinion, is, that the 

 masseter mascle had been contused, as appeared by the swelling afterwards. 

 Purges were now given ; and when the fomentations had lost their power, 

 mustard was applied extensively on the superior part of the neck. This gave 

 pain, and caused him to throw his head about in every direction for the space 

 of an hour. No further excitement could be produced during the same even- 

 ing by the re -application of the cold water. I now had the mustard washed 

 off, and ointment of cantharides substituted, and bled him to the amount of 

 two quarts ; when his pulse became imperceptible. The following morning 

 the blister was re-applied, not having acted : the pulse was 60, and full ; the 

 other symptoms had not improved. I again bled him till I could perceive no 

 vibration of the maxillary artery, at which period I had obtained six quarts : 

 Jxij of linseed oil were then administered. He took through the day a small 

 quantity of bran-mash and hay, but still kept lowering his head into the 

 manger, unless excited. In the evening the pulse was 60, and it had gained 

 strength ; I, therefore, abstracted three quarts of blood. Clysters had been 

 given from the first at intervals of a few hours. His bowels became relaxed, 

 and continued so for two days. The action of the blister now commenced, and 

 my patient exhibited favourable symptoms, such as regaining the use of his 

 extremities, and keeping his head erect. Through the whole of the case, one 

 good symptom remained, viz., that of the iris retaining its motion. On the se- 

 cond day of the purging he was released fi:om the slings : he walked about 

 with freedom. Pulse still 60. When the purging ceased, another draught of oil 

 was given, and in the course of a week his pulse returned to the natural state. 

 He received gentle exercise for the space of another week, and then went to 

 work, where he has continued as before the accident. It would, perhaps, 

 appear, in the foregoing case, that the medulla oblongata was the part of the 

 brain that had been injured (concussed?)." 



FRACTURE OF THE SKULL*. 



This is a rare accident among horses. Not that causes are 

 wanting for it, for in violent hands the animal too often receives a 

 blow upon the head ; but that the cranium is so small that it is not 



♦ The same subject is treated on, but in reference to the hones^ in vol. i, 

 page 258. 



