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
4. Can the dysdiadochokinesis be used to indicate cerebellar lesion
in David Collins? Possibly; but it does not appear that the
difficulty in executing successive movements was unilateral. It
seems impossible to bring into close topographical relation the
basis for the Babinski and left-sided hyperreflexia, and the basis
for the dysdiadochokinesis. Alcohol is sometimes asserted to exert
an especial effect upon the cerebellum.
5. Must we suppose structural lesions, either (a) of the nature of
cell losses demonstrable microscopically, or (b) of the nature of
secondary degenerations demonstrable by Weigert myelin sheath
methods, in the case of David Collins? It appears that we do not
need to assert the existence of such lesions.
6. Could the hyperreflexia and the Babinski reaction be due to local
spinal cord disease? Possibly; but the existence of other
neurological symptoms (lingual and manual tremor, speech defect to
test phrases, ataxic handwriting, and dysdiadochokinesis) makes it
probable that there were lesions, or at any rate disordered
functions, within the cranium; and there appears to be no basis
for asserting local spinal cord disease.
=Differential diagnosis between NEUROSYPHILIS and ACUTE ALCOHOLIC
PSYCHOSIS.=
=Case 62.= Joseph Buck was a chef of 60 years who came in, seeking
advice because his memory was getting poor; he was unable to remember
names and what he was about to do. He was tremulous and had much pain in
his limbs. He had been drinking heavily for weeks,—probably ten weeks;
in fact, he described himself as having had “the shakes” and as having
lately seen animals and people that were unreal. He had had the shakes
before and the condition had lasted for two to three days after alcohol
was discontinued.
=Physically=, Buck was tall, well developed, although poorly nourished,
with a skin suggesting alcoholism. There was a slight acne over the back
and chest; there was a slight enlargement of the heart, with blood
pressure, systolic, 180, diastolic, 120. There was a corneal opacity of
the left eye, which the patient said was the result of syphilis
following a chancre, which he had acquired at the age of 27. There was
also a ptosis of the upper lid of the left eye. The right pupil was
irregular and reacted to light sluggishly, and with a very small
excursion. The patient was slightly deaf in both ears. The deep reflexes
were all lively and equal. The tremor was most marked in finely
coördinated movements. There was a slight swaying in the Romberg
position but the sign could not be said to be present. The gait was
unsteady. There was a marked tenderness over the nerve trunks.
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