HOSPITAL RECORDS. 
117 
CONCUSSION OF THE BRAIN, COMPLICATED WITH FRACTURE OF 
THE OCCIPITAL BONE. 
By R. Harrison, D.Y.S. 
Late on the evening of May 13th a brown mare, eight years 
old, about 15^ hands high, was brought to the hospital of the 
American Veterinary College in the ambulance. The owner 
said she was being brought home from the blacksmith’s shop, 
and, when ridden under the Elevated Railroad, became fright¬ 
ened by a passing train, and fell heavily on her near hip and 
over on her head. She struggled violently, but was not able 
to get up. When admitted, common sensation and voluntary 
motion was entirely lost, so that when pricked with the point of a 
knife she gave no indication of pain. Her temperature was 1011° ; 
pulse 40, very full, and respiration 12, deep and stertorous. The 
pupils of both eyes were fixedly dilated and would not respond 
to the application of light; the left eye was nearly closed by an 
oedematous swelling caused by a violent bruise received near it; 
there was slight epistaxis from both nostrils, principally from the 
left; the tongue and some of the facial muscles were paralyzed; 
the surface of the body was covered with cold perspiration, and 
there were muscular tremors of the extremities; at irregular inter¬ 
vals she would, struggle violently. 
The diagnosis was made of concussion of the brain, and it was 
thought that a fracture probably existed at the base of the brain. 
A fatal prognosis was given. 
Treatment .—Her rectum and bladder were emptied, a full dose 
of aloes given, and cold water irrigation continuously during the 
night was applied to the head. 
May 14th, 8 a. m. —Was placed in a box-stall and confined so 
she would not knock herself to pieces. The temperature was 101°; 
pulse the same as the evening before; respiration more stertorous. 
Remained unconscious during the day and died during the night. 
Post mortern .—The temporal region where she had been 
bruised by the fall was oedematous and infiltrated. At the base of 
the brain outside the cranial cavity was a clot of blood as big as a 
man’s fist. The occipital bone was fractured on the left side near 
