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
=Head:= Calvarium of moderate thickness; diploë present; dura
slightly adherent over bregmatic region. Longitudinal sinus contains
cruor clot. Dura is somewhat thickened and slightly more opaque than
normal. Pacchionian granulations, small but fairly numerous. Pia
contains throughout a considerable excess of clear serous fluid. The
convolutions in general are of good breadth and proportion. There is
an atrophic area roughly circular in outline and about 2 cm. in
diameter in the posterior part of the right third frontal
convolution corresponding to Broca’s area on the opposite
hemisphere. The space thus formed is filled with edema held by the
pia. On the left side is a similar subpial collection which covers
the site of the posterior portions of all of the third frontal
convolutions, parts of the lower end of the precentral convolution,
and the whole of the first temporal convolution, which have
disappeared entirely. The basal vessels show slight changes.
Cerebellum and basal ganglia are grossly normal.
The spinal membranes are negative. The regions of the pyramidal
tracts in the cord are firm, project slightly from surface of
section, and are china white.
=Summary:= Here is a picture made up almost purely of VASCULAR
NEUROSYPHILIS, with SECONDARY SPINAL (PYRAMIDAL TRACT) CHANGES.
Doubtless the genesis of this picture is allied to that of Case 1 (Alice
Morton) and to that of the terminal vascular complications in a tabetic,
Case 2 (Francis Garfield).
The absence of meningeal and parenchymatous (i.e., outside the region of
necrosis produced by the vascular disease) lesions is characteristic of
an important group of neurosyphilitic diseases. It is clear that the
case, although one of _extensive_ lesions, is _not_ one of _diffuse_
lesions in the sense of Case 1 (Alice Morton).
The spinal fluid picture in life may nevertheless show (as other cases
amply demonstrate) a certain amount of lymphocytosis and possibly
plasmocytosis, together with a variety of other changes. Treatment might
be expected to keep down these associated changes, although obviously
the effects of the necrosis are final and definite. Franz in Washington
has succeeded in “reeducating” some of these hemiplegics, employing
lower mechanisms of the nervous system.
[Illustration:
Vascular neurosyphilis—effects of syphilitic thrombosis of Sylvian
artery 10 years before death. (Case 4.)
]
[Illustration:
=Case 4.= (See previous figure for brain lesion.) Three levels of the
spinal cord showing unilateral pyramidal tract sclerosis, 10 years
after cerebral thrombosis.
]
=JUVENILE PARETIC NEUROSYPHILIS (“juvenile paresis”). Autopsy.=
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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