A system of practical medicine. By American authors. Vol. 5 : $b Diseases of the nervous system
Science
A system of practical medicine. By American authors. Vol. 5 : $b Diseases of the nervous system
Medicine -- Practice
In the hypochondriacal form of general paralysis, vaso-motor
disturbances, flushed or pale face, headache, defective circulation,
and various abnormal sensations referred to the peripheral nerves and
internal organs are associated with a hypochondriacal mental state,
which is also marked by an evident mental impairment, manifested in an
almost childish changeability of complaints. Grand delusions and great
mental and motor excitement do not, as a rule, appear until the later
stages, but the hypochondriacal form is less subacute than the
demented.
In general paralysis with melancholia the sad delusions are apt to be
associated with some form of expansive ideas or to be transformed into
them at some stages of the disease, although the classical delusions
of grandeur are a late symptom.
The maniacal form of general paralysis with the délire de grandeur is
the disease as described by Calmeil. Mental exhilaration and delusions
of personal importance are its conspicuous features. It may develop at
any time in the course of the other three forms just mentioned; its
prodromal period may be such as has been described, usually shorter,
or the symptoms may be of excitement and maniacal from the beginning.
It is the general paralysis of the books until within recent years.
It is doubtful whether these four forms of general paralysis depend
upon any pathological basis which can now be determined, but their
recognition is practically important for an early diagnosis, and they
differ from each other very little in their later and final stages.
They constitute what is known as the descending form of general
paralysis, in the majority of cases of which descending degeneration
of the lateral columns of the spinal cord or posterior spinal
sclerosis, or both, appear, secondary to the brain disease.
In the ascending form of general paralysis there are posterior spinal
sclerosis and the usual symptoms of that condition—which are described
in another article of this work—from one year to a dozen or more years
before there are indications of dementia.
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