332 
CASE OF FRACTURE OF THE SKULL. 
RECOVERY. 
By W. Cock, M.R.C.V.S., Willesborough. 
On January 3 1st, 1836, my immediate attendance was 
requested to see a four-year old mare, the property of Mr. John 
Stevens, of this place, which had run away in harness in the 
town of Ashford, and dashing against the front of a house, 
her head came in contact with the shutter-fastening, by which 
means the cranial cavity was penetrated. On my examina- 
tion, I found that the iron fastening of the shutter had cut 
cleanly through the skull, directly upon the sagittal suture, 
and had then passed between the brain and the right parietal 
bone to the distance of two inches, fracturing the bone, and 
elevating it from the brain. I told the man who had charge 
of the animal that there w^as no hope of her recovery, and I 
hesitated whether I had not better recommend that she should 
be at once destroyed, she being in a state of collapse, with the 
eyes closed, and resting her muzzle on the manger, the pulse 
being likewise perfectly indistinct. I, however, determined 
to w^ait a time, and after allowing her to remain quiet for 
about two hours, 1 again saw r her. The symptoms were on 
the whole the same, but the pulse had become perceptible 
to the feel. Under these circumstances I resolved upon 
treating the case, and commenced by the withdrawal of 
blood to an extent bordering on syncope, gave a bold dose 
of cathartic medicine, ordered the skull to be kept w r et, and 
for her to be made as comfortable as the circumstances w r ould 
allow of, and to be watched carefully during the night. 
February 1st. — -The symptoms present this morning led 
me to anticipate that tetanus w r ould follow. I, however, did 
little beyond having fomentations constantly applied to the 
wound, and exhibiting an occasional enema. 
2d. — There is a slight improvement; the eyes are partially 
open ; the animal is more conscious, and drinks a little “bran 
tea;” the bow r els are responding to the action of the medicine. 
Continue the fomentations and dress the wounds with a 
digestive. 
3d. — Progressing favorably. The eyes are more open than 
yesterday, but frequent sighings are present. She drinks a 
little thin gruel. Give as follows : 
