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- 
salled 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 
vr-followed by pus. Hence, we find that what is generally caMed 
a recent layer of coagulable lymph, covering the convolutions in 
nieningitis, 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 
she organs of sense are lost, for the horse neither hears nor sees. 
The state of excitement may terminate, more or less quickly, 
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 
not be distinguished from hemorrhage.” 
Treatment.—The treatment of the preceding forms of acute dis- 
sase of the brain was formerly, and is at present, to some extent, 
sonducted 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- 
sudz; the bowels are kept in working order, by mixing Glauber 
salts with thin bran mashes. Half a pound of salts, dissolved in 
al out four quarts of mash, will generally prove laxative. Shouid 
