237 
A CASE OF RAMOLLISSEMENT OF THE CERE¬ 
BELLUM IN A HORSE. 
Bi/ M. U. Leblanc, M.V., Paris. 
The brain of the horse is much less developed than that of 
man, and its functions are far less important; it ought, there¬ 
fore, to be more rarely diseased. This is actually the case. 
Thus, true cerebral apoplexy, and softening of the brain, are 
extremely rare in the horse. The symptoms Vv'hich indicate them 
are also little known, and we do not find any of them well de¬ 
scribed in our recognized veterinary works. The pathologists 
who have touched on the subject have had nothing to assist 
them but a small number of facts collected with diflicultv. I am 
here referring to facts relative to true cerebral apoplexy ; that is 
to say, hemorrhage that has its seat in the very substance of the 
brain. Examples of ramollissement of the brain without hemorr¬ 
hage are yet more rare. It is on this last account that I am not 
willing that my brethren should lose the opportunity of studying 
a case which has come under my personal observation. 
On the 20th of August, 1837, a bay coach-horse, five years 
old, had recovered about fifteen days from strangles that had 
run its regular course. He was in good condition, fed well, and 
had regained his ordinary spirits. He had eaten his ordinary 
meal with appetite, and seemed to be in perfect health, when 
he suddenly fell on his right side, as if he had been thunderstruck. 
He was constantly looking towards his left flank, and he seemed 
to be intensely regarding it, so that the grooms thought that he 
was seized with a fit of colic. They endeavoured to raise him, 
which they accomplished with great difficulty; but he immedi¬ 
ately fell again on the same side. The head groom, who was 
much accustomed to sick horses, informed me that his breath¬ 
ing was much accelerated—that he rested his head on the left 
side of his withers—that his eyes were fixed, and that from time 
to time all four limbs were stiffened. He readily drank some 
water which they presented to him. 
In my absence and that of the proprietor of the stable, the 
head groom bled him at the jugular, to the amount of about six 
pounds. He told me that he had opened the two saphenas, 
but could only obtain a few drops of blood from them. 
I did not see the horse until one o’clock of the morning of the 
21st. He was still lying on the right side, with his head 
stretched more than usual before him, but occasionally he bent 
his head and neck towards the left. The eyes were open and 
fixed—the limbs stretched and yet flexible—the body covered 
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