An essay on wasting palsy (Cruveilhier's atrophy) / by William Roberts.

  • Roberts, Sir William, 1830-1899.
Date:
1858
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An essay on wasting palsy (Cruveilhier's atrophy) / by William Roberts. 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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    I tlie use of Ms arms and legs. Muscular vibra- tions were extensively distributed over the trunk, and the wasting was extreme in several muscles of the legs and arms, with a total loss, in some of them, of their electric contractility. He was admitted into hospital on the 26th of August, ] 853, and the report goes on to say, He was galvanised every morning. After 10 sittings the fibrillary tremors had ceased, and the contraction of the arms and legs was improving. The wrists had begun to recover their movement. In a month he supported himself on his feet, as if on stilts; the muscles of the leg did not, as yet, fix the tibiotarsal articulation. On Oct. 27th, an appearance of vol- untary contraction was seen in the anterior muscles of the leg. In the course of November, the foot was solidly joined to the leg; the patient walked without support, but he could not stand still in the same place, his two feet being in a state analogous to two Chopart's amputations. In December, he could raise the wrists freely; but the hand was still a claw. The use of electricity was now stopped for 21 days to observe the consequences. On the 22nd of January he was exactly as I left him. The treatment being resumed, he continued to pro- gress. In March he could stand firmly, and the muscles had regained their tonicity and volume. The interossei of the hand had resumed their play, and the fingers could be stretched out. For some time past he has fed himself. The emi- nences (thenar and hypothenar) are still atrophied,