WATER IN THE HEAD. 165 



round. First, some degree of fever comes on — she perhaps scarcely 

 eats — rumination is suspended — the muzzle dry — the ears and roots 

 of the horns hot — the breathing laborious, and the hair rough. It is 

 fever without any evident local determination. Perhaps she is bled 

 and physicked ; but on the following day, the thing begins to speak 

 for itself ; she turns round and round, and always in the same direc- 

 tion : it is pressure upon the brain ; no operation can relieve such an 

 animal from the hydatid. But is the pressure of the hydatid the 

 only one that can affect the brain, or produce this peculiar motion ? 

 Would not effusion of blood, or of any fluid, on some portion of the 

 brain, produce the same effect ? There may have been a too great 

 determination of blood to the head, and some little vessel may have 

 given way. It is worth trying for a day or two at least, and the 

 cow will not be much the worse for slaughter in that time. She 

 should be bled copiously ; and a stronger dose of physic be given. 

 In some instances, perhaps in the majority, the animal will do well. 

 A spare diet at the time, and a while afterwards, will be plainly 

 indicated. Success will not, however, attend every case. 



It is a disease peculiar to young cattle. It seldom attacks any 

 beast after he is a year and a half old. 



Veterinary writers, in those countries where the hydatid in cattle 

 is known, very properly remark that it may be discovered in young 

 stock, by the softening of the bone at a particular part ; because the 

 frontal sinuses are not fully developed in young beasts. The hydatid 

 may then be punctuated with an awl, or better with the trephine ; 

 but we recommend that young cattle thus affected should be imme- 

 diately destroyed. 



WATER IN THE HEAD. 



There is another species of pressure on the brain, to which young 

 cattle are subject, and sometimes even in the foetal state — hydroce- 

 phalus, or water in the head. 'I he fluid is usually found between 

 the membranes, and exists in so great a quantity, and enlarges the 

 head to such a degree, that parturition is difficult and dangerous ; 

 and it is often necessary to destroy the progeny to save the mother. 



We have seen hydrocephalus appear after birth in very weakly 

 calves ; but do not recollect an instance in a healthy one ; and in 

 almost every case it has been fatal : therefore such an animal should 

 be put to death. 



In the adult animal, the pressure of a fluid on the brain will 

 occasionally be a source of general disease, or death : but it will then 

 be an accumulation of fluid in the ventricles of the brain, and not 

 indicated by any change in the size or form of the skull. The symp- 

 toms will very much resemble those of apoplexy, except that they 

 are milder, and the malady is slower in progress — and the network 

 of minute arteries and veins in the ventricles are usually considerably 

 enlarged. 



