Clinical notes on nerve disorders in surgical practice / by George Wherry.

  • Wherry, George, 1852-1928.
Date:
1891
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Clinical notes on nerve disorders in surgical practice / by George Wherry. 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.

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    He lay on his back with his eyes closed but as if by effort, apparently unconscious, the face flushed, pupils active and equal. Examination of the right arm made him wince, and utter a few short convulsive sobs, but he did not speak or make any sign in answer to questions. When his ulster and other garments were stripped off, no evidence of injury or abrasion w^as found. The right arm was rigidly fixed in the extended position, the little finger firmly flexed into the palm ; the right lower limb was at first not rigid, but when I had asked if the leg was also stiff, and if he had walked after the fall, it immediately became perfectly rigid. After about twenty minutes he answered a question by a grunt. An hour later he w'as induced to take a cup of coffee. Six hours afterwards he seemed still better and occasionally replied to questions. He passed w^ater eight hours after the accident (ten or eleven hours after luncheon). Next day there w'as rigidity in the right upper limb ; it was easy by encouragement and control to flex it, but the more natural position of flexion could not be maintained. He gradually recovered and in a few days w'as quite w^ell. Careful examination failed to detect any injury— not even a bruise or swelling of the skin. There was a history of a severe fall from a horse some years ago, which had been follow^ed by headaches, for w'hich he was treated during a month after the accident by Dr. Hughlings Jackson. He was then kept quiet in a darkened room. In August 1884, my friend Mr. Deighton, at my request, brought the following case Avith mine before the Cambridge Medical Society. In November of 1883 he Avas summoned in urgent haste to see an undergraduate. He found him sun'ounded by his friends, Avho said they had been playing the “ Avilling game,” and that he had been blindfolded and Avilled; soon afterAA'^ards he became tottery on his legs and Avent off into a state of con- vulsions. 'When seen he Avas tossing about on a sofa, Avith face slightly flushed, the movements of the arms and legs being most irregular, almost equally exaggerated on both sides. The muscles of face and neck Avere least affected, but he spoke in a ierky Avay, and on putting out his tongue it AA^as protruded and