Surgical Treatment of Diseases of the Brain.

The author advises to operate only in cases in which a definite diagnosis can be made. In cases of hernia of the cerebrum he advises tying of the pedicle and removing the tumor. No great harm is noticed from the loss of brain tissue in these cases. There is less danger in the operation for cenencephalocele than in that for hydroencephalocele, because in the latter the danger from hydrops ventriculorum continues after the operation. In the occipital region cephaloceles are amenable to surgical operation only if they are small or if they are pure meningoceles. Deeply seated abscesses are considered at length. They should be opened and drained whenever positively diagnosed. The diagnosis depends chiefly upon the etiology. The following causes are given: traumatic injury to the hard or soft covering of the brain, or suppurative inflammation of some skull bone, usually the temporal, in connection with otitis media purulenta.