Case in which attacks of intermittent tonic muscular spasms, immediately followed by complete temporary paralysis, have frequently and periodically occurred during the entire life of the patient, the health in the intervals being normal / by A. Hughes Bennett.

  • Bennett, A. Hughes (Alexander Hughes), 1848-1901.
Date:
1885
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Case in which attacks of intermittent tonic muscular spasms, immediately followed by complete temporary paralysis, have frequently and periodically occurred during the entire life of the patient, the health in the intervals being normal / by A. Hughes Bennett. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    CASE IN WHICH ATTACKS OF INTERMITTENT TONIC MUSCULAE SPASMS, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY COMPLETE TEMPORARY PARALYSIS, HAVE FREQUENTLY AND PERIODI- CALLY OCCURRED DURING THE ENTIRE LIFE OF THE PATIENT, THE HEALTH IN THE INTERVALS BEING NORMAL. BY A. HUGHES BENNETT, M.D., Physician to the Hospital for Epilepsy and Paralysis, and Assistant Physician to the Westminster Hospital. Antecedent History.—The patient is a young woman aged 17. Her family history is unimportant.. The mother states that during utero-gestation she herself suffered from nervous symptoms as the result of fright, from being chased by a mad dog. She nursed the child for a year, but it was always very delicate and undersized, and was unable to walk till it was three and a half years old. At birth the patient is stated to have been apparently healthy, but three days afterwards she was seized with a fit. After this first attack, which was of a convulsive nature, she had no definite illness, but was subject to frequent faintings, in which she lay for a short time motionless, and turned up the whites of her eyes. When three years old, it was for the first time observed that in these seizures the limbs were drawn up. These periodical attacks have continued since, but have become more frequent and severe. Two or three years ago they were accompanied by screaming and other apparently violent hysterical symp- toms, but of late these have disappeared. The catamenia have never occurred. In the interval between the attacks tlio physical health has been good, but mentally the patient is considered deficient, and althougli she has been to school, she cannot read or write like other girls of her age.