The diseases of children : a short introduction to their study / by James Frederic Goodhart.

  • Goodhart, James Frederic, 1845-1916.
Date:
1888
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The diseases of children : a short introduction to their study / by James Frederic Goodhart. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

    526/752 (page 502)
    no iifTection of sensibility, no wasting of the muscles,, and no disturbance of the functions of the bladder. But spasm is by no means uncommon in the paralysis of children. It is said more often to take on a one- sided pattern, and has received the name of spastic hemiplegia; but whether hemiplegic, or paraplegic chielly, ceitain peculiarities attach to it. First of these is tlio frequency with which it goes with idiocy and also Avith lits. Of ten cases, six boys and fovir gii'ls, of Avhich I have notes, eight A\-ere imbecile; tAvo only are noted to be intelligent. It sometimes occurs in the youngest infants Avith small brains (micro- cephalus); but more often it happens that the child has been quite avcII up to a certain time, and has suddenly been taken Avith severe brain symptoms and convulsions. The inability to Avalk has closely fol- loAved, and the idiocy has sloAvly supervened. In a certain proportion—I must h.ave seen six or eight of such cases at least—there is defective sight, Avith choroiditis disseminata, or some optic atrophy. These points are perhaps better illustrated by short notes of the cases :— Case i.—A boy of two and a lialf ha.s .squinted .since birth,, has ncA cr been intelligent, and never Avalked ; has never had a fit of any kind ; he is quite imbecile; there is internal strabismus and nystagmus ; the optic discs are blueish-AA'hite and atrophied ; both legs move badly ; they are spasmodically flexed at the knees, and can only be kept straight Avith dilli- culty. He is quite unable to stand for this reason. Case 2.—A boy of seven had a lit at the age of three years, remained Avell for tAvelve months, and gradually after this lost power of AA’alking and talking ; at first he Avalkcd on his toes. When lying down, his legs are rigidly extended, Avith pointed toes, re.sisting attempts at flexion. Case 3.—A girl, aged four. She is imbecile ; lia.s fits; there is internal strabismus, and the fundus oculi is hazy and SAAml- len ; her leg.s and arms become quite rigid on slight stimula- tion ; the legs are so rigid that she is quite unable to stand alone. Case 4.—A boy of six and three-quarters. His paternal aunt became idiotic after fits; a great-aunt died in an asylum Avith brain disease; three other children died Avith convulsions..