Mental diseases: a public health problemMay, James Vance
Science
Mental diseases: a public health problem
May, James Vance
Mental health services; Psychology, Pathological
The characteristic physical signs noted in all textbooks are described
in detail by Kraepelin[175] as common to all of the clinical forms of the
disease. The inequality, irregularity and immobility of the pupils,
the speech defect, difficulty in writing, tremor of the lips, facial
muscles and tongue, the marked changes in both superficial and deep
reflexes, the alterations in the gait, the muscular incoordination,
the presence of the Babinski reflex or ankle clonus, the sensory,
motor, vasomotor and trophic disturbances constitute a combination of
physical signs which is to be found practically nowhere else within the
domain of psychiatry. The seizures, either epileptiform, apoplectiform
or resembling syncopes, are almost pathognomonic when taken into
consideration with the physical signs alone.
The pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid is from three to five times as
great as in normal individuals. The albumen content of the fluid is
increased about six times (Kraepelin). The increase in the globulin
content has been very frequently referred to in the literature of
general paresis. Kraepelin states that it also occurs in tabes,
syphilis, brain abscess, occasional cases of extra medullary tumors,
multiple sclerosis and in some infectious diseases. He attaches a great
deal of importance to the increase in the cellular elements of the
spinal fluid. "Cases with repeated normal findings are so rare that the
correctness of the diagnosis may be justly doubted." The Wassermann
findings no longer require comment. The colloidal gold test of Lange
is equally well known. Nowhere else in psychiatric procedure does the
laboratory render such valuable diagnostic assistance as is the rule in
cases of general paresis. A positive Wassermann reaction in the spinal
fluid, the presence of an increase in the albumen and globulin
content, with a marked lymphocytosis in the cerebrospinal fluid and a
positive gold test, is quite sufficient evidence on which to base a
definite diagnosis. The results of an examination of the spinal fluid
for diagnostic purposes at the time of autopsy are highly unreliable.
An increase in the cell count, which may be misleading, is found in
the spinal fluid of non-paretics in all cases after death. The number
of cells depends entirely on the time of examination. It is not at
all unusual to find from one to three hundred per cubic millimeter
when a count is made from twenty-four to forty-eight hours after
the death of the patient.[176] Another interesting fact is that the
presence of sugar always shown by Fehling's solution during life
cannot be demonstrated postmortem, at least after the lapse of a few
hours.[177] The significance of this change is not clear. Nor is the
increase in the globulin content of the spinal fluid, when taken alone,
pathognomonic of either general paresis or syphilis, as was pointed
out in 1909.[178] One of the most elaborate studies ever made of the
spinal fluid, that of F. W.
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