Page:Transactions of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association, volume 1.djvu/119

 in infants than in adults; and we are told by M. Jadelot, that in many children who had died with symptoms of hydrocephalus, dissection presented no other pathological condition than morbid hypertrophy of the brain. It is a fact of some importance to know, that cerebral hypertrophy may present symptoms indicative of effusion, and may even terminate fatally, yet without any other morbid appearance than extraordinary development of the brainular mass, and with only very little fluid in the ventricles. Instead of effusion, the convolutions of the brain appear flattened from previous pressure, exhibiting increased density of structure.

But, even where there is no præternatural size of the encephalic contents, yet cerebral congestion, from whatever cause, may exhibit symptoms bearing a strong resemblance to hydrocephalus, and death may supervene without effusion; and it is probable, also, that many of those cases (which are recorded as cures of hydrocephalus) may depend more on pressure of blood, arising from a congested state of the cerebral vessels, than on effusion of water. Under active treatment, such cases may admit of relief, and the symptoms of oppressed brain may disappear. It is worthy of remark that the two organs I have above alluded to, as the seat of hypertrophy in infants, not infrequently exhibit simultaneous disease. What morbid link exists between the two, how far they stand in the relation of cause and effect, and which most frequently assumes the initiative in the circle of changes, physiologists are not yet prepared to decide. It is certain, however, that if either viscus is structurally.