Enormous tumor of the postero-parietal region, weighing over half a pound : absence of localizing symptoms until late in the history of the case : operation, death / by F.X. Dercum and W.W. Keen ; history of the case by Dr. Dercum.

  • Francis Xavier Dercum
Date:
1903
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Enormous tumor of the postero-parietal region, weighing over half a pound : absence of localizing symptoms until late in the history of the case : operation, death / by F.X. Dercum and W.W. Keen ; history of the case by Dr. Dercum. 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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    and for a time was better, being free from headache, vertigo or vomiting. On May 20, however, in the morning, he complained of some vertigo and nausea. About noon had his wound dressed; suffered from nausea. Induced vomiting by means of his finger. Felt some relief after this vomiting, though the nausea persisted more or less for the remainder of the day. In the evening com- plained of a slight headache. On May 25, 1902, he was re-examined by Dr. Mills and my- self. Station. A slight increase of sway. Right knee-jerk slightly diminished; left knee-jerk slightly diminished. Right ankle clonus slight disappearing; left ankle clonus, zero Right plantar reflex, zero; left plantar reflex, normal. Faint hypesthesia of the inner aspect of lower portion of right thigh and right leg. June I, 1902. Symptoms as before. Tested for astereognosis upon the soles of the feet, it was found that he was somewhat un- certain as to the position of a pencil when the latter was placed in various positions upon the sole of the right foot. In one in- stance he clearly mistook the direction for transverse when it was longitudinal. Upon the sole of the left foot he made no errors whatever. Further, he did not recognize little balls of paper placed between the toes of the right foot as readily as when they were placed between the toes of the left foot. Tune 3, 1902. Re-examination by Dr. Mills and myself. Right knee-jerk, minus; left knee-jerk, minus. Right ankle clonus, slight disappearing; left ankle clonus, zero. Right plantar reflex, sometimes absence of response; left plantar reflex, normal. Other symptoms as before. June 7, 1902. This evening (about 7.30) complained of nausea and vertigo. This attack appeared rather suddenly and was quickly followed by an attack of vomiting. Vomiting was not followed by any relief, though it recurred at intervals; it was accompanied by considerable retching. The vomited material consisted of a thick viscid mucus and some bile. Nausea and vertigo had almost disappeared by the following morning, after patient had slept fairly well. June 10, 1902. Examined by Dr. W. G. Spiller. Present, Dr. Mills and myself. Left knee-jerk, minus; right knee-jerk, more diminished. Sensation for touch preserved in each lower limb and appears to be equal upon the two sides. The same is true of pain sensa- tion. If hypesthesia is present upon the right side, it is exceed- ingly slight.