CONSULTATIONS. 
395 
empty ; but I should think that they had not been much distended. 
The brain itself appeared to be natural ; and as I was often in the 
habit, when a student, of using calves’ brains, I can state this with 
some confidence. 
The pia-mater, and arachnoid membranes, however, were much 
injected, but there was no appearance of lymph. This — a large 
calf — was killed within twelve hours of the first appearance of the 
disease, so that perhaps there was little time for lymph to form. 
I examined the stomach and intestines, and the only thing that 
struck me was great softness of the mucous coat. The calf had 
been dead only thirty-six hours, so that I think the softening was 
more than it ought to have been. 
The next calf that dies they will send to me, so that I shall 
examine it leisurely ; and if you will favour me with any hint, I 
will avail myself gladly of it in the examination of it. 
I am, &c. Charles Lingen. 
Hereford, March 24, 1839. 
They are rearing, not feeding calves, but have had some flour 
and bran. In fact, they have been treated as the owner has been 
in the habit of doing for fifty years. They are of the same breed, 
and in the same cots, and nothing resembling this has before 
occurred. 
REPLY. 
My dear Sir, — From the misdirection of your letter, there was 
delay in the delivery of it, and I was from home the greater part 
of yesterday, or you should have received an earlier reply. 
I really know not what answer to send to you. You do not tell 
me the age of the calves, nor is that very material, for they are yet 
fed on milk, occasionally having bean-flour and bran. All at once 
they refuse their food — they grind their teeth — they appear stupid, 
or occasionally ferocious. While they have the power of motion, 
they evince a disposition to turn round and round, and always in 
one direction; but, presently, their limbs are paralyzed, or rather 
stiffened; there is insensibility or perfect coma; and, in from 
twelve to thirty-six hours, the animal is dead. There is no purg- 
ing; and bleeding seems to hasten the fatal termination of the 
disease. 
There is evident cerebral affection ; but of what kind ] There is 
compression of the brain on one side, and probably on one side 
only — that side of the brain which forms, as it were, the centre of 
the circle which the poor beast describes. What is the cause of 
this! If, instead of twenty-four hours, the disease had lasted 
twenty-four days, I should have said that an hydatid had taken up 
