ABSCESS OF THE BRAIN. 
543 
pneumonia existing in a system under the influence of influenza — 
whatever that influence be — instead of existing in a normal or 
uninfluenced state of system. Whether this be the interpre- 
tation of a series of facts in horse medicine which we think 
“ nobody will deny/’ certain it is that our phleams and lancets, 
which once on a time were ever in our hands ready for execution, 
now absolutely rust in our pockets or upon the shelf in our surgery, 
for want of use. And as for pins, were it not that they now and 
then turn out useful for a twisted suture, we seem no longer to 
have any demand for them in a disease which once proved the 
occasion of their greatest consumption. 
What would Coleman say to all this, could he rise out of his 
tomb and behold such changes'? Would he believe that pneumonia 
or pleuro-pneumonia could be successfully combated without blood- 
letting 1 One thing, probably, he would teach us as connected with 
the change ; and that is, that the virus or contamination of in- 
fluenza pervaded the mass of blood, and that through such change 
of property in the vital fluid it was that the character and tendency 
of disease became so vastly and remarkably altered. 
ABSCESS OF THE BRAIN. 
By J. W. Gloag, V.S. 1 \th Hussars. 
I HAD a curious case a few days since. One of our officers 
bought a thorough-bred horse in Ireland about five months since. 
The animal was then in very poor condition, which was accounted 
for by having been taken out of training. He remained in this 
poor condition, although on the best keep, until about three weeks 
• since, when he was broken in for light harness in London. Great 
excitement and fever was brought on during this breaking, and the 
animal was dangerously ill for some days. He was then sent to 
Hounslow, and came under my notice : he was at this time reco- 
vered from the last attack, but was very thin, and looked dull and 
mopish. He was put into a loose box, and had a good groom, and 
every attention in the way of diet ; linseed, scalded oats, carrots, 
&c. &c. The animal, although feeding very well, pined away vi- 
sibly daily, and I was quite at a loss how to account for it, as the 
dung was natural, & c. The horse also quickly lost strength and 
energy, but had no feverish symptoms, but rather a depression of 
vital power. 
On Sunday the 3d, I looked into the box to see the horse, and 
