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
3. How shall we explain the absence of ataxia of case Burkhardt when
knee-jerks are absent and when, therefore, we are entitled to
conclude a certain degree of spinal disease? As stated in
connection with case Sullivan (16), the absence of knee-jerks is
not a warrant for terming a case—paresis of the tabetic form. The
fact is that the lesion in paresis tends to be intraspinal, just
as the higher brain lesions tend to occur within the brain
substance. The meninges are relatively spared both within the
cranium and within the spinal canal. The characteristic
degeneration of posterior nerve roots which we find in tabes
dorsalis is not necessarily found in general paresis even when
there are somewhat extensive spinal lesions. Accordingly the
absence of sensory returns by way of the posterior nerve roots
which characterizes tabes dorsalis is not necessarily a phenomenon
of general paresis. The mechanism by which the knee-jerks are lost
depends upon histological detail. They may be lost when under
tabetic conditions the posterior roots are severely diseased and
when under paretic conditions only intraspinal collaterals or a
small portion of fibres are affected. The whole question hinges
upon where and to what degree the various reflex arcs are cut in
the disease. The tabetic phenomena are, as so commonly stated,
intradural; that is, the sensory or gangliospinal neurones at
certain levels are affected all the way in from the points at
which they pierce the dura mater. The affection of these and other
neurones in general paresis is an intraspinal and parenchymatous
affection.
=Neurosyphilis; auditory hallucinations; ideas of persecution;
attacks of excitement. SYPHILITIC PARANOIA (Kraepelin)?=
=Case 59.= Bridget Curley was a case that was discharged from the
Psychopathic Hospital, recovered, after 26 days in hospital. The
symptoms so resembled those of alcoholic hallucinosis that the diagnosis
was made despite the fact that the patient consistently denied the use
of intoxicants. There was, in fact, no proof that she drank alcohol. The
case was, however, not clearly one of alcoholic hallucinosis or of any
other well-defined form of mental disease. A provisional diagnosis of
manic-depressive psychosis, manic phase, had, in fact, also been made.
The illness had begun with depression and inactivity, Bridget’s friends
accounted for these conditions on the ground that a lover had departed
for Ireland. A few days after the depression began, Bridget became dizzy
and refused to give a boarder his breakfast, stating that she had lost
her memory and had begun to hear bells ringing and people talking. She
then became greatly excited and was brought to hospital, where the
prolonged baths quieted her.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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