Neurosyphilis : $b Modern systematic diagnosis and treatment presented in one hundred and thirty-seven case historiesSouthard, Elmer Ernest
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Neurosyphilis : $b Modern systematic diagnosis and treatment presented in one hundred and thirty-seven case histories
Southard, Elmer Ernest
Neurosyphilis
Myerson has reported a 20–year old patient who acquired chancre
April 1, 1911 (spirochetes demonstrated); salvarsan was
administered April 20th. There were no secondary symptoms, but in
May, headache, visual disturbance, vertigo, and other symptoms
developed (neurorecidive). Upon June 20th, that is, 11 weeks after
development of the chancre, aphasia and astasia developed, with
numbness of the left side. At this time, the pupils were slightly
irregular and unequal but reacted normally. The signs in the fluid
were positive. Upon this question see our cases of Bright (121)
and Bennett (34).
=Hemitremor following hemiplegia in PARETIC NEUROSYPHILIS (“general
paresis”). Autopsy.=
=Case 50.= Achilles Akropovlos, 39 years, had symptoms six months before
commitment to Danvers Hospital. There were attacks of confusion,
difficulty in walking, and speech defect, resulting in an entire
incapacity to work and eventual commitment. Rather unusual and striking
was a very marked tremor, apparently limited to the right side of the
body. =Physically=, Akropovlos was normal, but =neurologically= he
showed, in addition to the marked right-sided tremor, a marked speech
defect, and a degree of ataxia. The tendon reflexes were very active,
but there were no abnormal reflexes, and the pupils reacted normally.
According to the history, the difficulty had followed a slight attack of
apoplexy. =Mentally=, there was a marked confusion. The blood serum and
the spinal fluid were both positive to the W. R.; globulin was present,
and albumin was increased; there were 43 cells per cmm. There was hardly
any diagnosis to make except general paresis.
Death followed 18 months later, or two years after onset of symptoms.
Increasing weakness, emaciation, and dementia preceded death. Autopsy
confirmed the diagnosis of PARETIC NEUROSYPHILIS.
1. What is the usual cause of death in general paresis? Intercurrent
disease very frequently occurs in general paresis, and such
intercurrent disease is then given as the cause of death. As a
matter of fact, however, one feels that in many of these cases the
intercurrent pneumonia or infection—frequently of the
bladder,—bedsores, sepsis, and the like, are merely accidental
incidents in a condition that is leading to death, and which has
caused a lowered resistance to infection. In certain instances
where nursing is exceptionally good and where no such infection
occurs, the patient continues to grow weaker and weaker, paralyses
of all the muscles follow and finally paralysis of deglutition or
respiration may lead to death. The emaciation and paralyses may be
of such a grade that the patient is entirely devoid of fat and
unable to move at all. Not infrequently vascular crises occur, and
one of these may be responsible for death.
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