150 
CONSULTATIONS. 
No. II. 
I wrote a scrawl to you on Sunday last, and forwarded the brain 
of a brown mare. The animal was bought on Friday, the 2d of 
July, 1846, and died in forty-six hours afterwards. Expecting that 
there might be a dispute regarding the money being returnable, 
I thought proper to forward the brain for your opinion, should it 
have been required. The horse-dealer has paid back the money, 
and all is settled. 
I much wished to obtain a history of the mare previous to her 
coming to town, but have got nothing out of the dealer as yet : he 
says he knew nothing of the mare. As soon as I can learn any 
thing regarding the case I will write. 
I am, dear Sir, your’s truly. 
11th January, 1846. 
Copy of Reply. 
Dear Sir, 
I duly received both your letters, and also the mare’s brain, 
which I took the opportunity of shewing to the class. It is a very 
good specimen of scirrhous tumours arising from the plexus cho- 
roides, which are most commqjily the cause of staggers; these 
tumours going on gradually to increase, until some accidental 
cause excites more active disease, which soon destroys the animal. 
Although the tumours in this case are very large, I have some 
preparations in which they are larger. It is rather a curious cir- 
cumstance that these tumours are commonly of a very firm con- 
sistence, and generally contain a gritty matter, apparently calcareous. 
The disease in this case is evidently of long standing, and there 
could be no doubt of the unsoundness having existed long prior to 
the sale, and that the dealer was bound to take the mare back. 
I have generally found in such cases that, although the animal 
might to a superficial observer appear in good health, there are 
some symptoms of disease of the brain to be traced long prior to 
more prominent symptoms of active disease becoming evident. 
There is, for example, generally a dulness and drowsiness, a very 
slow pulse, frequently a disinclination to move when the head is 
drawn forward, or, rather, the animal so affected is apt to draw 
back, or to rear up when pulled by the halter. 
One of the preparations in my possession I obtained rather 
curiously. A horse was brought here (by the owner — a carter), 
affected with staggers. After making a few inquiries about him, 
I requested the man to move him forward, when, on pulling the 
halter, the horse reared up, the owner lost hold, and the horse 
