C. M. a man forty years of age, was admitted into the hospital Dec. 26,
1795. It was stated, that he had been disordered two months previous to
his having been received as a patient. His friends were unacquainted with
any cause, which was likely to have induced the complaint. During the time
he was in the house he seemed sulky, or rather stupid. He never asked any
questions, and if spoken to, either replied shortly, or turned away
without giving any answer. He appeared to take little notice of any thing
which was going forward, and if told to do any little office, generally
forgot what he was going about, before he had advanced half a dozen steps.
He remained in this state until the beginning of May, 1796, when his legs
became oedematous, and his abdomen swollen. He grew very feeble and
helpless, and died rather suddenly May 19th. He was opened about
forty-eight hours after death. The pericranium and dura mater adhered
firmly to the scull; in many places there was an opake whiteness of the
tunica arachnoides. About four ounces of water were found in the
ventricles. The plexus choroides were uncommonly pale. The medullary
substance, afforded hardly any bloody points when cut into. The
consistence of the brain I cannot describe better than by saying, it was
doughy.