324 
COMA IN THE HORSE. 
could not determine. My impression, however, was, that in all 
probability there was a collection of fluid within the venticles; 
and my reasons for coming to this conclusion were the following ; 
viz. That there was an undue degree of pressure upon the sen- 
sorium could not be doubted ; and that this pressure operated more 
particularly upon the optic nerves was also certain ; and as a 
collection of fluid within these cavities would more especially press 
upon the optic nerves by direct pressure upon the Thalami ner- 
vorum opticorum, I think I had some reason to form the opinion 
above stated ; although, of course, I could not say positively that 
this was the case. Again, a pressure on almost any other part of 
the brain would, most likely, have produced partial if not complete 
paralysis of some other organ : whereas, no such circumstance had 
been observed. Having formed this opinion upon the case, of 
course my prognosis was extremely unfavourable, viz., that al- 
though the horse might, perhaps, recover this attack, still he would, 
at no distant day, be carried off by a future one. On Tuesday I 
frequently visited my patient, and continued the cold water and 
sedative medicine until night, when the medicine having operated, 
and the symptoms being less urgent, the ablutions were discontinued. 
Wednesday morning . — Medicine operating rather freely ; pulse 
feeble, and appetite fastidious : this improved, however, during the 
day, and the animal ate a little grass, and oats mixed with bran. 
In the evening the action of the cathartic medicine was subsiding, 
and, on the whole, the horse was progressing favourably. 
Thursday morning . — Medicine set, appetite dull, pulse quick and 
almost imperceptible at the submaxillary artery : discontinue me- 
dicine, give gruel, oats, bran, &c. In the afternoon, or rather 
evening, I was sent for in haste, as the horse was down and in 
great pain. I immediately attended, and found him lying down, 
very restless, and apparently suffering great pain, continually 
changing his position, and especially rising on his fore legs and 
sitting on his haunches, which position appeared to give temporary 
relief : the pupils, which had contracted to nearly the usual size, 
were again dilated, and the optic nerves again paralyzed ; the heart 
beating violently, but the pulsation of the arteries imperceptible; 
the legs and ears becoming colder every hour; the breathing 
very quick and laborious, (very much resembling that of a horse 
badly broken winded when under severe exertion), and the animal 
becoming rapidly exhausted : with these symptoms, I confess I was 
completely put to a nonplus. It was not colic or enteritis, and I 
did not consider it to be gastritis. I had never seen a case of 
ruptured diaphragm ; but, from the writings of others, I was in- 
clined to consider this to be a case of that description. I certainly 
did not think it to be a chest affection, as no symptom indicating 
