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
2. Is neurosyphilis frequently found in both mates? It can hardly be
said that this is a usual finding. However, it is far from rare,
and it occurs frequently enough to be used in support of the
theory that there is a special strain of spirochete that has a
predilection for nervous tissue. It must be remembered, however,
that the wives of syphilitics are frequently infected without
being aware of it. In such cases they receive no treatment and
consequently have a larger chance of developing neurosyphilis. It
is a good rule to consider the mate of every syphilitic a
candidate for neurosyphilis.
=An atypical case of recurrent dazed states resembling HYSTERICAL
FUGUES. Probably an instance of NEUROSYPHILIS.=
=Case 74.= Abel Bachmann, a man of 40 years, remains doubtful and
perhaps belongs to the still unresolved group of mental cases due to
syphilis that cannot be placed in any of the well-known categories.
Bachmann had been found by the police, working in front of a cowbarn
without the consent or even the knowledge of the owner. Bachmann had, in
fact, spent the night in the cowbarn and was working with the idea of
paying for his night’s lodgings. The situation struck the police as so
peculiar, and Bachmann was so confused and irresponsive, that he was
brought to the Psychopathic Hospital. The afternoon of his admission,
however, he entirely cleared up and was able to give a good account of
himself.
His story was that he had been worrying a good deal about a divorce
suit, and the morning of his episode he had awakened with peculiar
feelings. He walked from Boston to Cambridge, feeling that he was in a
strange city. He recognized the places he passed, yet they all seemed to
be changed. Upon reaching Harvard Square, he determined to return to
Boston and walked and walked, failing to reach Boston. All day he had
eaten nothing; when night fell he stole into a field and dug out
radishes. A postman stopped and said, “Hello, Bill,” which awakened him
as by an electric shock. A barn presented itself, in which he spent the
night. In the morning, the barn looked different. In fact, his entire
surroundings appeared mysterious. As he felt like working, he went to
work in front of the barn.
It seems that in his life there had been two other episodes of a similar
nature; in fact, Bachmann had been in a state hospital for six weeks
after the first episode. The first episode had lasted a few days only,
and followed worry when he learned that the girl with whom he was in
love was married. The second attack followed the death of his mother,
whereupon he was taken to a state hospital although the total duration
of symptoms was only three days. Bachmann had had a chancre or some
other form of genital disease at 26, and had at that time been treated
with mercury.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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