Neurosyphilis : $b Modern systematic diagnosis and treatment presented in one hundred and thirty-seven case historiesSouthard, Elmer Ernest
Science
Neurosyphilis : $b Modern systematic diagnosis and treatment presented in one hundred and thirty-seven case histories
Southard, Elmer Ernest
Neurosyphilis
In the light of what we now know concerning latent neurosyphilis,
it would seem well for patients to be followed from time to time
with the W. R. on blood and spinal fluid after the supposed
completion of the treatment of primary and secondary syphilis. The
examination of the spinal fluid is not superfluous, as our
experience with the so-called _paresis sine paresi_ abundantly
shows. At the present day it is not good practice to assure a
patient that he is cured after two years of ordinary mercurial
treatment without resort to frequent spinal fluid tests, even
though the serum W. R. be negative.
=TABETIC NEUROSYPHILIS (“tabes dorsalis”) is often quite ATYPICAL
clinically and may even show no single symptom warranting the old
clinical name “locomotor ataxia.”=
=Case 30.= Stephen Green is a case of TABES DORSALIS with active
knee-jerks and without locomotor or muscle-sense disorder. When observed
at the age of 45, it appeared that there were but two complaints: lack
of control of the vesical sphincter and shooting pains in the legs. It
appeared that the urinary disorder dated back ten years, when there had
been difficulty in passing the urine. Sounds had been passed at the
time; occasionally there had been incontinence during after years,
ascribed by Mr. Green to the passing of the sound. However, the
physician at that time stated that the incontinence was a symptom of
tabes dorsalis. The incontinence had recently become worse, especially
marked at night, though also occurring in the day; much worse during
excitement, and very much worse after taking alcoholic drinks. Besides
incontinence, there is also difficulty at times in passing the urine, as
well as dysuria.
As for the pains in the legs, they had been first noticed some three or
four years ago and considered to be mild rheumatic effects. Now,
however, they have grown progressively worse and have been the effective
cause of giving up business. The pains are sharp, darting, pinching, and
burning, and last, say, about a second with an interval of about the
same length. The attack will continue sometimes for many hours.
There is a strabismus of the left eye, ascribed by the patient to an
accident with an umbrella (there had been operation without relief). The
pupils showed the Argyll-Robertson effect and were markedly irregular.
Despite the divergent strabismus with diplopia, the eye movements were
well performed although not in parallel axes. Ankle-jerks could not be
obtained even on reinforcement, but the knee-jerks were lively, and the
other deep and skin reflexes proved normal. The blood and spinal fluid
tests were characteristic of tabes dorsalis.
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