AND KUMREE^ OR WEAKNESS OF THE LOINS 313 
was sawn through; then from the frontal sinus, with the centre 
pin alone, a small hole was bored through the most depending 
part of the bones of the cranium. This hole permitted the escape 
of at least two ounces of serum, the evacuation of which relieved 
the poor animal so much, that he immediately afterwards ascended 
that acclivity which half an hour previous he could not do. With 
the view of permitting the exit of any fluid that might have re¬ 
mained, he was, while on this hillock, turned round, and led a 
little forwards, so that the posterior extremities were about three feet 
higher than the anterior ones; and his head was also depressed 
as much as possible. In this position he was kept for about fifteen 
minutes, during ten or twelve of which the water poured out with 
great rapidity. From this it would appear that the fluid insinuates 
itself into the theca of the spinal marrow, though perhaps in small 
quantities, and not farther than the last cervical vertebra. 
For about a quarter of an hour afterwards he was walked, trotted, 
and occasionally turned round ; and though in this exertion he ex¬ 
hibited some difficulty, no person who was not aware of what 
had been done would suppose him to be the same horse. He was 
also more than once walked up and down the hillock before 
alluded to, and, on one occasion, he was led down a tank. He took 
a drink of water, and returned with little difficulty; but I must 
here observe that this tank was not so steep as those generally 
found about Calcutta. 
Ordinary measures were now adopted to prevent symptomatic 
fever; but I am sorry to say that he expired on the 10th day. All 
this time he was kept as quiet as possible; and I am ignorant how he 
may have been from day to day with regard to kumree. An attack 
of fever, under which I laboured, deprived me of the opportunity 
of examining the parts after death: however, I was informed that 
no morbid appearances were present about the spinal marrow nor 
brain, except what would have been expected from the general 
inflammation. 
Here two questions naturally arise, which are worthy the 
serious consideration of the anatomist and physiologist. 
1st. Does pressure on the brain produce weakness of the loins 
in horses ? ‘ .... 
2d. If so, why should not the anterior as well as the posterior 
extremities be affected?’^ 
