CONSULTATIONS. 149 
and on with great difficulty. He said his hand felt so heavy and 
full of pain that he was obliged to have it in a sling. 
After the inflammation had somewhat abated, his hand came out 
full of large pustules : some of them containing pus, and the others 
a fluid, which ultimately spread over the whole surface of the hand 
and fore arm, separating the cuticular parts. He complained of 
the left hand being much the worst, and asked me the reason. I 
then asked him whether he had cut any of his fingers, to which he 
replied, Yes, he had cut one of them with a straw. He also said that 
it smarted very much when the dressing of the affected parts took 
place, which I said I thought was the cause of that hand and arm 
being the worst. Now, in my opinion, the two cases here re- 
corded, are sufficient to prove them cases of communicated epi- 
demic, and having a greater effect by inoculation. 
EPISTOLARY CONSULTATIONS WITH 
PROFESSOR DICK. 
No. I. 
Dear Sir, January 4, 1846. 
TO-MORROW I intend to forward to you the brain of a brown 
mare that died to-day, and was bought on Friday last, the 2d of 
January. The mare was not forty-eight hours in the possession of 
Mr. James Robb. On Saturday I was called on to attend the mare, 
but being from home did not see her till night : at that time she 
had just got on her feet. She had lain all day as if in a dead 
sleep, not moving a muscle. They had lifted her on her feet about 
mid-day. She did not seem to be able to stand; and although 
punctured with pins and stabbed with a penknife she did not appear 
to feel. It was about nine at night when I first saw her, and she 
was then evidently in great torment, dashing herself about until 
she died, which was about twelve o’clock. 
Being anxious to have an inspection of the head, I proceeded to 
lay open the brain ; and finding it in the state presented, I have 
thought proper to send it, that you may see purulent matter formed. 
Its hardness astonished me much ; and, altogether, I consider there 
must have been chronic inflammation going on for some time. If 
you would be kind enough to let me have your opinion, after you 
have dissected the brain, I shall feel obliged. I hope it will arrive 
safely, and I am sure it will be with you before this letter, as it is 
now past post-hour, and our mail is not so frequent as it should be. 
Excuse this hurried scrawl, as it is now late ; and, expecting to 
here from you soon, I am, dear Sir, 
Your much obliged. 
T\p Wn^. Dick, Esq. 
