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
Upon =examination=, the marked enlargement of the thyroid gland together
with the prominent eyeballs, husky voice, and pulse rate of 150 per
minute, were entirely consistent with the diagnosis of exophthalmic
goitre. The patient described herself as “Carrie Nation.” Asked to write
her name, she took the pen and tried to spatter ink, wrote hurriedly and
carelessly her maiden name and several words without apparent meaning.
Asked to write, “God save the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” she wrote:
“God save the common pal U S Spe Manor Gen, or til pat. Since Lord, or
no prime in Hear to the God Tel. Ho. n and or Mabel, or gal.” After
this, she took paper and wrote meaningless scrawls, saying that it was
Japanese writing. There was much motor restlessness with
distractibility, pointing and grimacing, mimicking the actions of those
about her.
Death occurred from exhaustion, and the case might not have been
regarded as unusual except for the autopsy, which showed a peculiar
brain lesion, described below. The point of greatest interest in the
case was the fact that syphilis is, although not proved to exist by
laboratory tests, beyond question a factor in the case. Although the
woman had given birth to a normal child, who is still alive, yet in the
period of a few years her breasts had atrophied, her hair had
disappeared from the axilla and from the pubes; varicose veins had
developed in both legs. Whereas there was little or no fat over the
chest or back, the omentum and mesentery were very plentifully supplied
with fat. It is probable, then, that we are dealing with a case of
exophthalmic goitre somehow of syphilitic origin. The brain lesion is
consistent with this hypothesis.
=Autopsy=, March 3, 1907. Four hours post mortem.
Body length, 165 cm. Body of a well developed and well nourished
young woman. Lividity in dependent parts. Purplish discoloration of
left thigh to knees. Skin rough and scaly. Petechial eruption over
chest. Neck thick, protrudes anteriorly. Varicose veins over upper
parts of calves on both legs. Eyes protruding, not covered entirely
by lids. Pupils equal, dilated. Subcutaneous fat very deep over
lower part of body. Very little fat over chest and back. Breasts are
very small, apparently atrophied. Normal amount of hair on head,
slight amount over pubes. Axillary hair absent. Fat on section of a
light yellow color. Omentum extends to pubes, plentifully supplied
with fat. Large amount of mesenteric fat. Appendix normal.
Intestines smooth and glistening. Slightly injected. No fluid in
peritoneum. Uterus small, retroverted.
[Illustration:
Cortical hemiatrophy—A, relatively normal right precentral (“motor”)
cortex; B, atrophic left precentral.
Note in B:
1. Absence of giant pyramids of Betz (corticospinal, upper motor
neurones).
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