DISEASES OF THE BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM. 79 



porarily. Great prostration and muscular debility are generally 

 observed. 



The seat of * sleepy staggers,' or cerebral meningitis, is the so- 

 called subarachnoid cavity, in which is a quantity of loose areola 

 tissue, richly furnished with blood-vessels. It generally results 

 that the exudation poured into this cavity is quickly accompanied 

 or followed by pus. Hence, we find that what is generally called 

 a recent layer of coagulable lymph, covering the convolutions in 

 meningitis, is, in point of fact, a layer of pus, generally present- 

 ing a molecular character. As to the diagnosis, notwithstanding 

 the efforts which have been made to distinguish meningitis of the 

 convolutions from that of the base, or either of these from a sim- 

 ple effusion into the ventricles, I have in vain sought for any 

 precise symptoms, which could be relied on, as indicative of the 

 situation of the disease. Drowsiness and coma, causing slow and 

 subsequently rapid pulse, succeeded by restlessness. The horse 

 is excited ; he flings himself about, frequently jerking his head up 

 and down, sometimes rearing, perhaps, into the manger ; tension 

 of the limbs, thrusting the head into the rack. The faculties of 

 the organs of sense are lost, for the horse neither hears nor sees. 

 The state of excitement may terminate, more or less quickly, in 

 convulsions and death, or the patient may relapse into a state of 

 coma, and ultimately result in partial or complete recovery. 



The gradual mode of invasion, and the succession of the symp- 

 toms to one another, are also characteristic, and differ markedly 

 in degree from those which, attend sudden attacks of apoplexy 

 caused by hemorrhage. They are both the result of general 

 pressure on the brain, and hence the reason why mere effusion can 

 r.ot be distinguished from hemorrhage." 



Treatment — The treatment of the preceding forms of acute dis- 

 ease of the brain was formerly, and is at present, to some extent, 

 conducted on the absurd antiphlogistic plan, by blood-letting, 

 purging, and blistering, which practice kills more than it ever 

 cures. The plan now adopted by the author is to give drachm 

 doses of gelseminum every four hours, until relief is apparent. 

 The cranial region is kept constantly bathed with cold water ; the 

 rectum is kept free from excrement by means of injections of soap- 

 suds ; the bowels are kept in working order, by mixing Glauber 

 salts with thin bran mashes. Half a pound of salts, dissolved in 

 about four quarts of mash, will generally prove laxative. Should 



