A Treatise on the Eclectic Southern Practice of Medicine Page: 215 of 724

                                
INFLAMMATION OF THE BRAIN.

the sphincters relax, he falls into a profound sleep, and
life is gone; these symptoms I regard as more certain
indications of inflammation than the symptoms which
present in respect to the intellect.
Causes.-This disease is more frequently the ac-
companiment of fever than of any other disease. It is
frequently the result of colds, especially when over-
heated. It will occur also from heat alone, especially
if exposed to the direct rays of the sun. Mental irrita-
tion, want of sleep, or long continued watchings will
sometimes produce it.
It is asserted that a cessation of the itch has been
followed by phrenitis.  Dr. Elliotson attaches much
importance to inflammations of the eye, or the ear, or
the nose, or the frontal sinuses, will sometimes spread
to the brain. I have myself seen two or three such
cases. Phrenitis has frequently carried off patients who
have had nothing more, at first, than inflammation of
the parts I have just enumerated. Of course inflamma-
tion will spread in the head just as in other parts of the
body. When the nose and sinuses have been inflamed,
the bones in many cases have been carious.
Dr. Elliotson again says, "I have several times seen
phrenitis arise from disease of the ear, and once saw
gangrene of the dura mater, from a case of this descrip-
tion."  (I have also seen it: I have alluded before to a
similar case.) iHe says, "When a person has a dis-
charge from the ear, or ear ache, we ought to be on our
guard to notice the first symptoms he may mention of
pain in the head, or the first anxious look that is dis-
played.  The very slightest symptoms of cerebral affection,
when there is a cessation of discharge from the ear, ought
to put us on our guard," Hle says he has seen a' number

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