528 
MR. YOUATTS VETERINARY LECTURES. 
generally in one particular spot, a little more than an inch ante¬ 
rior to the root of the horn, and in a direction towards the frontal 
suture. If I am disappointed in finding the parasite there, I 
can afterwards have recourse to the wire, on the supposition that 
the hydatid may be embedded in the substance of the brain. 
Under these circumstances, the trephine would succeed much 
oftener than it does now. 
The permanent Remit of the Operation .—But there is still 
another question to be taken into consideration. Supposing that 
we have effected a seeming cure, can we depend upon the per¬ 
manent result of the operation ? It is mortifying to be com¬ 
pelled to answer this in the negative. It is exceedingly annoy¬ 
ing to the experienced practitioner to be constrained to regard 
his most successful cases with suspicion. The farmer acts pro¬ 
perly here—experience has taught him wisdom. He fattens the 
sheep as speedily as he can, and sells him; for in too great a pro¬ 
portion of cases, three months will scarcely pass before the dis¬ 
ease will return, and a second operation will become necessary ; 
and even that may not be effectual. No sooner has one hydatid 
been removed than another begins to develop itself. Huzard 
jun. counted no fewer than thirty distinct hydatids in the brain 
of a lamb; and therefore we may sometimes operate without 
end, and the animal must at length inevitably perish. Even 
after the expiration of six or nine months he is not safe. 
Difference between the Symptoms of Sturdy and other cere¬ 
bral Diseases .—The presence of the hydatid can scarcely be 
confounded with inflammation of the brain, when we regard 
the anxious yet half-vacant countenance—the absence of furious 
delirium, and of all desire to do mischief. If the sheep seems 
to be galloping wildly about, it is evidently to avoid some ima¬ 
ginary evil, and not to seek an encounter with an imaginary foe. 
From rabies it will also be distinguished by nearly the same 
symptoms; but more of the distinguishing symptoms between 
the sturdy and frenzy and rabies hereafter. 
With apoplexy and inflammatory fever it can scarcely be con¬ 
founded, for these generally attack the flower of the flock: the 
comparatively debilitated sheep is the prey of the hydatid. The 
victim of the former can scarcely be induced to move, the latter 
is scampering everywhere without rhyme or reason. The pro¬ 
gress of apoplexy and inflammatory fever is rapid—a few hours 
decide the fate of the patient; the progress of this is slow: the 
one dies of plethora, the other of marasmus. 
Medical Treatment .—Are, then, our efforts confined to the one 
or the other of these operations, and the tedious waiting for the 
time when we may have recourse to them, and the doubtful re- 
