Observations on general paralysis of the insane and on the morbid changes found on post-mortem examination of the spinal cord / by Robt. Boyd.

  • Boyd, Robert, 1808-1883.
Date:
1871
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on general paralysis of the insane and on the morbid changes found on post-mortem examination of the spinal cord / by Robt. Boyd. 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.

    5/26 (page 5)
    ■was of short duration and death ensued quickly, were dis- tinguished by softening of the spinal cord, and in one case by enlargement of it. In the last of these fatal cases which took place in that year the symptoms of palsy only existed for four or five weeks; death occurred rather suddenly, after a fit. There was softening of the spinal cord and a consider- able quantity of fluid in the ventricles of the brain. The chronic cases of palsy, those in which the fatal ter- mination did not occur for several months, were distinguished by induration, sometimes by atrophy of the spinal cord, and by thickening of its membranes. There were in 1848 four fatal cases, and in 1849 seven fatal cases in males; in females, there was one fatal case in each of those years. In 1850 there were seven fatal cases of general paralysis in males and four in females. In one female the disease ap- peared to be caused by a fibrous and fatty tumour, proceeding from the upper part of the spinal cord. In the other cases the morbid changes were wasting of the spinal cord, in- flammation, with softening and induration of its substance, as well as inflammation, preternatural adhesions, and thick- ening of its membranes. These changes were generally connected with similar changes in the brain and its mem- branes. A striking example of general paralysis occurred in a male who died at the close of the year. He was a weaver, aged 48, and was admitted into the asylum in June, until which time he had worked at his trade, but had recently spoiled forty yards of cloth, and had become violent in his conduct. His wife stated that for six months prior to his mental de- rangement she observed he rather tottered in walking, that his lips and tongue quivered, and his articulation became in- distinct ; afterwards he was wont to laugh at trifles, and had the appearance altogether of an intoxicated person. These symptoms gradually increased after he was placed under my care. He was of a ruddy complexion, very cheerful, and anxious to go out into the fields. A month before his death he had an attack of diarrhoea, of which he soon got better; but ever afterwards his strength failed, and he was confined entirely to the house. On the 12th December he was seized with violent convulsions, principally affecting the right side; these continued without abatement or relief from treatment for four hours, when he died. On examination after death, there was found abundant evidence of chronic inflammation