582 UNQUALIFIED PRACTICE. 
^ / 
Bill Norbrook was seized witli a kind of brain fever, which made 
him quite mad; he roared, raved, blustered, and swore, in the 
most boisterous manner, and all for his horses. It was curious 
to observe the nature of his delirium ; for if incoherent on many 
things, yet when speaking of horses or coaches, he maintained 
more connected associations ; for example, he would jave in a 
strain to this effect:—“ He would drive himself, by G—d ! No 
man should drive his horses—pretty creatures—they were in good 
trim, wer’nt they! What ho, my tits; go it, then—go it, my 
pretty fellows,” and much more to the same purpose. This state 
continued two or three days, with only a few intervals of quiet, 
and occasionally seasoned with oaths to stable-boys, ostlers, and 
horse-keepers; and at last the malady became so great, that to 
keep him from getting up, the attendants put ropes to the bed¬ 
posts, and gave them to him as reins , and in this manner he con¬ 
tinued driving to the last; illustrating, as before remarked, “the 
ruling passion,” until death ended his sufferings. I recollect Nor¬ 
brook very well, and can say that he w T as a sober, temperate young 
man, and enjoyed very good health ; hence the suddenness of the 
attack must be referred to his having used the lancet as before 
detailed. My informant stated, that he thinks Norbrook w r as 
locally affected, that is, where the puncture was made. Of this 
latter fact I can only speak doubtfully, owing to absence of 
positive evidence. 
If this letter should be seen by the medical gentlemen who 
attended poor Norbrook, it would be a valuable contribution to 
surgical science to have the particulars detailed with greater accu¬ 
racy, and the morbid appearances of the brain , &c., as in all pro¬ 
bability a post-mortem examination took place. In conclusion, 
I may add, that however imperfect this communication is, I hope 
it may be the means of procuring more correct information on a 
case of such decided interest.— (Lancet J 
THE VETERINARIAN , OCTOBER 1 , 1831 . 
Ne quid falsi dicere audeat, ne quid veri non audeat.—C icero. 
_______ i 
The following circular has chanced to fall in our way. We 
suppress the name of the person from whom it emanated, for it is 
of the system more than the man that we wish to speak. 
