Concussion

(-küsh'ün.) [From L. concutio, I shake.] (Med.) A sudden impre ion or shock communicated to the brain or to the whole nervous system, as the result of a severe injury, or collision of the body with some external object, as in a fall, or in the crash of a railroad accident. It is usual to distinguish C. from the more mechanical results of injury, by observing its effect upon the circulation and on the general sensibility; and there can be no doubt that the distinction is well founded, for in the first place death may follow from C. alone, without any appreciable destruction of texture; and secondly, C. maybe followed by recovery within a few hours, leaving the local injury entirely unattended by constitutional disturbance; or recovery maybe complete, there having been no local injury at all. Under the immediate shock of injury, the patient is usually unconscious and insensible, pale, cold, sometimes shivering, pulsele , or nearly so, the pupils inclining to contraction rather than dilatation, or in some cases natural; the breathing is irregular, slow, feeble, and sighing; the secretions are suspended; the stomach often yields up its contents; and the bowels and bladder may also be evacuated. This state ends either in death, or in gradual reaction, which may pa over into a state of inflammatory fever, with violently excited circulation, and greatly increased heat of the surface. In the treatment of C., it is sometimes nece ary to have recourse to stimulants; but in general, moderate heat applied to the surface, abundant supplies of fresh air, and careful adjustment of the injured parts, are all that is nece ary till consciousne is somewhat restored, and the power of swallowing regained; some warm soup should then be given, with a small allowance of wine or other stimulant, proportioned to the age and habits of the individual; and the effect being carefully watched, this treatment may be continued until restoration is complete.-(Civ. Law.) The unlawful compulsion of another, by threats, or by the abuse of office or rank, to yield up, compulsorily or otherwise, something of value. (kõn'da,) a fortified town of France, dep. Nord, at the junction of the Hague and Scheldt, 25 m. S.E. of Lille. It gave its name to the titular princes ofCondé. Pop. 6,238. the titular designation of an illustrious French house, founded in 1335 by Jacques de Bourbon, Count de la Marche, whose great-grandson, Louis de Bourbon, a umed the title of Prince. Of those who conferred historical distinction on the name, were: The aforesaid Louis de Bourbon, son of Charles, duke of Vendôme, B. 1530, who, after gaining early military renown, became one of the leaders of the Huguenot or Protestant party, and was defeated and made prisoner in the battle of Dreux; fought, in 1567, the drawn battle of St. Denis, and, in 1569, was killed on the field of Jarnac.- His great grandson, LoUIS II., immortalized in history as THE GREAT CONDE, B. 1621, commenced his brilliant military career by defeating the Spaniards at Rocroi, 1643. The year after he won the sanguinary battles of Freiburg and Nordlingen; captured Dunker que in 1646, and, two years later, defeated the Archduke Leopold at Lens. Incurring the enmity of Mazarin, the latter caused C. to be imprisoned for some months; in retaliation for which the Prince, after his release, took command of the Frondeurs, besieged Paris, and defeated Turenne and the royal army. Afterwards entering the Spanish service, he fought against the French in Flanders, and, after the Peace of the Pyrenees, was engaged in the subjugation of Franche-Comté. His last and greatest achievement was defeating the Prince of Orange (afterwards William III. of England) in the bloody action of Senef, 1674. The closing years of the life of the great C. were pa ed in retirement at his chateau of Chantilly, surrounded by the most eminent literati of the time, one of whom, Bo uet, delivered a glowing eulogium over his remains. D. 1686.- This great house became extinct in the person of LOUIS HENRI JOSEPH, the last duke of Bourbon, who committed suicide in 1830. [s. 215]