On acute cerebro-spinal meningitis caused by the Diplococcus intracellularis of Weichselbaum : a clinical study / by Cecil Wall ; (communicated by Francis Warner).

  • Wall, Cecil, 1869-1947.
Date:
1903
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: On acute cerebro-spinal meningitis caused by the Diplococcus intracellularis of Weichselbaum : a clinical study / by Cecil Wall ; (communicated by Francis Warner). 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.

    95/108 (page 91)
    The child continued in much the same condition, occa¬ sionally appearing to improve slightly and at other times appearing worse. It appeared that the child was blind, but no changes in the fundi were noted at any time. Kernig’s sign was never present, but occasionally there seemed to be some slight rigidity of one arm. Vomiting was infrequent after the first fortnight until a week before death, when it recommenced with some diarrhoea. The retraction of the head persisted through¬ out, and the occasional drawing back of the upper lids also continued. No strabismus was noted at any time. The temperature was normal or subnormal throughout, except on three occasions, when for a few hours it rose to 100° or 101°. Just' before death the child weighed 9 lbs. 4 oz. Lumbar puncture was performed on March 12th, and the diplococcus intracellularis found present with another bacillus, resembling the bacillus influenzae. The total duration of the illness was eighteen weeks. At the post-mortem examination all the organs except the brain were found to be healthy. The ventricles were enor¬ mously distended with fluid, and there was much fluid in the spinal theca. There was some milkiness of the mem¬ branes at the base, but no lymph was found anywhere. Case 31.—Harry K—, aged 1 year, admitted February 28th, discharged July 12th, 1901. The child had been well until 10.30 p.m. on the day before admission under Dr. Glib art Smith, when he became feverish and vomited. He had been breast-fed until admission, but occasionally had had a little cow’s milk. There were signs of broncho¬ pneumonia with evidence of consolidation at the right apex. The temperature was 104'6°. On March 7th a squint was noticed, and it was thought that there was some retraction of the head; the hands twitched occasionally. The body generally was somewhat rigid. The knee-jerks were not obtained. The signs of broncho-pneumonia had disappeared. On March 11th he vomited once ; on the 14tli there was marked retraction