Observations upon the effects of electricity, applied to a tetanus, or muscular rigidity, of four months continuance. In a letter to the Royal Society ... / [Sir William Watson].

  • Watson, William, Sir, 1715-1787.
Date:
1763
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations upon the effects of electricity, applied to a tetanus, or muscular rigidity, of four months continuance. In a letter to the Royal Society ... / [Sir William Watson]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    5/16 (page 5)
    After the back was afFeft.ed, the difeafe extended itfelf very fail; fo that by the end of September, almoft all the mufcles of her body were rigid and motionlefs. To be fomewhat more par¬ ticular; the rigidity from the Temporal and Maffeter mufcles had extended itfelf to the cheeks, to the mufcles of the neck, breaft, abdominal mufcles, ail thole of the back, the right arm, the hips, thighs, legs, and feet. Nor were they by any force, that could be exerted with fafety, to be extended. By the rigidity and con¬ traction of the large and long mufcles of the back, the Os Sacrum and hips were pulled towards the fhoulders; fo that the fpine formed a very confiderable arch. By the fuperior ftrength of the Flexor mufcles of the thighs to that of the Extenfors, the legs were pulled up almoft to the thighs. Of ail her limbs, the left arm only preferved any motion. Of this the joint of the fhoulder was rigid, that of the elbow ex¬ tremely impaired ; but the wrift, hand, and fingers, were reafonably pliant. The various mufcles fubfervient to the motions of the eyes, eyelids, lips, and tongue ; as well as thofe, internal ones at leaf, which affifb in performing the offices of refpiration and de¬ glutition, did not feem in the lead; to partake of the rigi¬ dity. From the end of September to the middle of November, the dif¬ eafe, as though it had exerted all its power, was at a fland. The fe- verifh heats had left her, and her pulfe beat generally between eighty and ninety ftrokes in a minute. But during this interval the poor patient was feized many times, both in the night and in the day, with violent convulfions in thofe mufcles of the eyes, face, and right arm, which had any mobility left. Thefe were fo fevere, that, in her weak and wretched date, her attendants imagined every attack would put an end to her diftrefles. In this ftate, partly from the feverity of the difeafe, and partly from the very fmall quantity of food which could be given to her, and % 4 | \