Syphilis of the brain and spinal cord, showing the part which this agent plays in the production of paralysis, epilepsy, insanity, headache, neuralgia, hysteria, hypochondriasis, and nervous derangements / by Thomas Stretch Dowse.
- Dowse, Thomas Stretch
- Date:
- 1881
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Syphilis of the brain and spinal cord, showing the part which this agent plays in the production of paralysis, epilepsy, insanity, headache, neuralgia, hysteria, hypochondriasis, and nervous derangements / by Thomas Stretch Dowse. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![and other conditions which are in many cases vaguely termed hysteria, merely indicate an unstable condition of the sympathetic nervous system in persons who are essentially the offspring of syphilised progenitors. Pathology has shown us that the doctrines taught, even by recent observers, concerning functional nervous disorders are no longer tenable. I think it must be admitted that the time has passed for us to consider chorea and paralysis agitans as mere functional nerve disorders, but how far functional troubles are due to acquired and hereditary syphilis is certainly a question of considerable importance, and I am inclined to think that they are of greater prevalence than is generally admitted. Here we are, unfortunately, wanting in pathological proof, but the following cases, from a clinical point of view, are signifi- cant : Case IX.— Vaso-viotor Derangement—Recurring Storms of Sym- pathetic Symptoms—Absence of the ordinary signs of Hysteria— Menstrnation Normal—Acquired Syphilis—Recovery. [Abbre- viated notes.] L. B , £et. 34, has been under my care for some years. There is no neurotic history. She is short of stature, but well developed; there is neither lateral nor angular curvature of the spine (but during the attacks there is general spinal hyperccsthesia). Menstruation is regular, and the uterus is, in all respects, normal. Has enjoyed excellent health until the past four year?. When 26 years of age she contracted syphilis, and suffered from its effects for nearly twelve months. At the age of 29 she became so changed in character that her friends could not account for it; she was irritable, violent-tempered, and morose, and at the time of her attacks they seriously contemplated sending her to a lunatic asylum, as she was scarcely manageable. These attacks, the signs of which I shall briefly describe, were not periodic, neither were they asso- ciated with menstruation. They were ushered in by increased irritability of temper, want of sleep, parched mouth, dry tremulous tongue covered with a thick whitish-brown • fur, and loss of taste and smell, as well as visual derangement. Pupils widely dilated; congestion of optic discs, as well as of sclerotic and conjunctival vessels; redness of the ears and of the face, sometimes unilateral or bilateral. Formications over the face are at times localised, at others diffuse ; no vomiting. 4-2](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b20402788_0055.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
