Synopsis of apoplexy and epilepsy, with observations on trachelismus, laryngismus, and tracheotomy; and the proposal for a hospital for epileptics / by Marshall Hall.

  • Hall, Marshall, 1790-1857.
Date:
1852
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Synopsis of apoplexy and epilepsy, with observations on trachelismus, laryngismus, and tracheotomy; and the proposal for a hospital for epileptics / by Marshall Hall. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    4. Both apoplexy and epilepsy may have their origin in organic disease of the nervous centres, or of their vascular structure, arteries, veins, or intermediate vessels. Both may be of inorganic origin, and the effect of one or other of the Emotions or Irritations. Of these, the former act directly, the latter diastaltically, on the Neck, or on the Larynx ; or the affection of the larynx may be secondary. 5 I have ventured to designate these affections Trachelismus, or Laryngismus, respectively. 6. I am as persuaded as I can be of any medical view, that the apoplexia mitior and the epilepsia mitior depend on trachelismus; and that they might be designated apoplexia or epilepsia trachelea. I am per- suaded that the apoplexia gravior and the epilepsia gravior depend upon laryngismus, and that they, in their turn, might be designated apoplexia or epilepsia laryngea. 7. Seeing the importance which I attach to these distinctions, you will not, gentlemen, be surprised that I make them the foundation of the division of the present Lectures. The first will, indeed, treat of Trache- lismus ; the second, of Laryngismus ; with their relations, anatomical, phy- siological, pathological, and therapeutic. 8. But if laryngismus be the essential link between the exciting causes and the apoplexia and epilepsia gravior, it is plain that Trache- otomy, in superseding the effects of this condition, must supersede the graver forms of those diseases, converting them into the milder respectively. But an essential part of the epilepsia gravior is general convulsion ; laryngismus then is essential to this convulsion ; and as tracheotomy su- persedes the effects of laryngismus, it must supersede convulsion, with the further train of dire affections, in the epilepsia gravior. 9. This is the case in effect. If we institute tracheotomy, there can be no general convulsion. The epilepsy is cut short; it presents the