Case of peculiar disease of the skull and dura mater.

  • Balfour, John Hutton, 1808-1884.
Date:
1834
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Case of peculiar disease of the skull and dura mater. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

    4/14
    On the evening of the 4th October 1834, I was requested to visit a young gentlemari^bout 18 years of age, who, according to the statement of his friends, laboured under deafness of seve- ral months duration, which they had considered to be his chief complaint, but which was soon proved to be merely a symptom connected with some deep-seated disease of the head. The patient was tall and emaciated, his eyes were large, his countenance had a pallid hue, and he appeared to be of a stru- mous habit. On inquiry, I found that he complained of head- ach, which was at times severe, and was accompanied with ver- tigo, and a sense of ringing in the ears and throbbing in the head. The pain frequently extended through the whole head, but was generally referred to the posterior region. The cra- nium itself was large and well-developed, but did not at that time present any peculiar appearance which would have directed attention to it. He experienced a feeling of weight and heavi- ness in the head, which was somewhat relieved by assuming a re- cumbent posture. There was some discharge from the right ear, and an appearance of ulceration in it. His pulse was 120, with a peculiar jerk, and his tongue was very foul and coated. There was considerable heat of surface, more especially in the head. His appetite was tolerably good, and he complained much of thirst. His bowels were confined, and were reported to be ge- nerally constipated,—no evacuation taking place often for eight days at a time. He had also some shooting pains in the knee, hip and shoulder joints, which he attributed to rheumatism. Though he was in the constant habit of going out for the pur- pose of taking a walk, still he was easily fatigued by any exer- tion, and was obviously in a weak state of body. His friends stated that he had always been of a pensive dis- position, and, even when a child, had not entered into the active sports of other boys. He was very fond of reading, and his headach was principally attributed to this. His growth had been very rapid within the last two years, and he was much taller than most young men of the same age. He had always displayed great cleverness and proficiency in his studies, and although, from particular circumstances, he laboured under great disadvantages as to the means of education, still, by his own un- aided exertions, he had made considerable progress in ancient and modern languages, as well as in mathematics. He had never been very robust, and had not enjoyed good health for several -4 ■o -n.