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 this basis, if we regard the confusional phenomena as
malarial and the persistent mental phenomena as characteristic of
a moron and somewhat exaggerated by the disease, we have merely to
explain the suggestive pupils. As to these, it must be remembered
that though they reacted poorly to light, still they reacted
somewhat, so it is not a question of explaining an
Argyll-Robertson pupil, but only an impaired pupillary reaction.
Of course, some workers are of the opinion that pupillary changes,
perhaps even the Argyll-Robertson pupils, may occur in syphilitic
cases that are not neurosyphilitic, or at all events are not
victims of central neurosyphilis. Finally, we must remember that
there are cases of neurosyphilis of a vascular type which yield
negative spinal fluids. The case leaves many questions unanswered.
=Can paretic and non-paretic neurosyphilis be differentiated by
means of the gold sol reaction? The gold sol reaction in this case
was an extremely mild one and would not at all have warranted the
diagnosis GENERAL PARESIS, yet the discovery of a heavy meningeal
exudate including an unusually heavy deposit of plasma cells even in
the spinal pia mater will perhaps warrant us in making a final
retrospective diagnosis of paretic neurosyphilis. Autopsy.=
=Case 68.= We would like to give the full effect of our surprise at the
outcome of the case of Margaret O’Brien, a school-teacher, 26 years of
age. To be sure, Miss O’Brien developed symptoms at 22 or 23 which we
can now explain consistently with the outcome of the case; for at that
time, she began to complain of severe pain in the head, especially in
the forehead and temples, and also became nervous, unable to remain
quiet, and given to insomnia. She was markedly depressed at the time and
would refuse to talk at times. However, only the headache in this
prodromal period could be regarded as particularly suggestive of
syphilis, and headache in an over-worked school-teacher is not uncommon.
In fact, the picture presented by the patient was one of catatonic
dementia praecox. The patient was admitted to the hospital after a
sudden onset of excitement. At first she was very restless, continually
looking about and getting up and walking away from the examiner, giving
the impression of understanding all questions but preserving an air of
indifference. A few days later, the patient was gotten to answer more
coöperatively. She remarked that the hospital was heaven although in
Boston; that it was summer time (correct) and that her memory was
greatly impaired. The physician was a messenger of God (delusion later
corrected). The patient had not done God’s will; her breath was leaving
her; God’s voice was heard from time to time, and Miss O’Brien had heard
it for a long time. God tells her to do His will. However, as Miss
O’Brien remarked, “I must think all this nonsense, turning against God.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account