IN the horse. 
259 
and rigid diet. Let the animal have water-gruel if he will 
drink it; but he is not to be drenched, because the act of drench¬ 
ing will increase the irritation. Setons in the sides of the neck, 
issues in the head and the neighbouring parts, and revulsives. 
Purgatives are always contra-indicated: the violent disorder 
and painful irritation they occasion only seiwe to exasperate the 
cerebral excitation. They must be used with caution even when 
phrensy and all symptoms of irritation in the head have been 
subdued. We have seen the disease brought back in horses 
evidently convalescent by the administration of purges, with the 
foolish notion of clearing the alimentary passages. ' 
In chronic hydrocephalus, while irritation is present, we must 
also bleed; but we must draw only smkll quantities whenever 
debility prevails. 
** XIV. At the same time we must take care not to confound real 
dehiJity consequent upon an impaired constitution or an expenditure 
of vital energy with the apparent debility produced by oppression, and 
which uniformly denotes disorder of the brain, either primitive or sym¬ 
pathetic. In cases of direct debility, blood-letting is dangerous; on the 
contrary, when the strength is reduced by oppression, the time may 
speedily come when, if blood-letting is not had recourse to, nothing can 
save the patient’s life.^' 
If the pulse, contracted at first, expands on the detraction of 
blood, the bleeding should be repeated. Setons in the neck, 
and also in the thighs, may be useful; likewise blisters in the 
neck, and even cauterizations of the poll and forehead. Lastly, 
provided there be no irritation in the alimentary canal, and' the 
animal himself be of an unirritable lymphatic temperament, we 
may give drastic purges, irritating clysters, and diuretics ; but 
should inflammation be present we must confine ourselves to 
the latter. In all cases we must use every possible means to 
excite perspiration. 
“XV. Almost all substances administered internally by the name of 
sudorijicsy act principally on the skin by increasing the general circula¬ 
tion. This is what we have most to dread in arachnoiditis and cephalitis. 
We must be, therefore, cautious in our sudorifics : warm clothing and va¬ 
pour baths seem most likely to be beneficial.’^ 
Last of all, when hydrocephalus is mild and tardy, though 
the lancet may still be required, it must be used more sparingly. 
Setons, mild purges, a liberal regimen, and the removal of all 
exciting causes, are the remedies. It is certain that a congenital 
predisposition to hydrocephalus, either from temperament or 
organic structure, may be removed, or at least rendered in¬ 
operative, by a suitable mode of living, exercise properly regu¬ 
lated, and kind treatment. 
