202 THE NATURE AND TREATMENT OF 



to be wise." I cannot endorse this sentiment, however ; for in 

 this day of intellectual maturity, no one has a right to be a 

 dunce in his chosen profession, nor a fool, to thwart the inten- 

 tions of those who would substitute light for darkness. 



Softening of the brain is always preceded by acute, and, 

 subsequently, chronic inflammation of the same or its investing 

 tunics, and constitutes the last stage of disease ; so that the 

 days of such a subject are numbered, and the man of gimlet 

 and ignorance, armed with his munitions of warfare, treats the 

 disease at long odds ; he pockets the fees but loses the case. 

 His patient, on which a too confiding owner has foolishly per- 

 mitted him to practice his cruelty and legerdemain, dies, and 

 he knows not the why nor the wherefore. 



But in order to convince the reader of the follies of the 

 above practice, I offer the following illustration, from a reliable 

 source. The case was diagnosed and treated as horn-ail. I 

 quote from the " Southern Planter : " — 



'' After death, examined the head. Crest between horns 

 perfectly hollow. All the little divisions and offshoots of bone 

 which are usually found in the cavity, were removed, in a 

 greater or less degree, and there were only the white of egg 

 matter and pus ; the horns also entirely hollow, one of them 

 filled with nearly a pint of lymphy and purulent matter ; the 

 cavity extending to the orbit of the eye, thence communicating 

 with the nostrils, especially on one side. The brain, which 

 lies in very near contact with this cavity of the crest (which we 

 may as well call the ' frontal sinus), was softened and fallen, in 

 one hemisphere, into a thick mush ; a small part only of this 

 half was of healthy consistency, preserving its form or vessels 

 entire. The other half (hemisphere) was not softened, but the 

 vessels were very full of blood, and the membranes exhibited 

 signs of intense inflammation. No other region or organs 

 examined." 



In regard to this quotation I remark : It is very natural 

 that the frontal sinuses should be hollow ; for if they were 

 solid, the weight of the head would be enormous ; and I can 

 readily perceive the wisdom of the divine Artist, in thus adapt- 

 ing the parts for the convenience of the animal, and relieving 



