Progressive muscular dystrophy : comparisons of some of the varieties with each other, and with progressive muscular atrophy / by J.H. Crocker.

  • Crocker, J. H (John Hedley)
Date:
1894
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Progressive muscular dystrophy : comparisons of some of the varieties with each other, and with progressive muscular atrophy / by J.H. Crocker. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

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    kyphosis, and other deformities resulting from the irregular wasting of the muscles. 10. Reaction of Muscles, (a) Nervous.—Some voluntary movements can be produced in both varieties, provided there are a sufficient number of healthy fibres left in a muscle to contract. (b) Spontaneous.—A very important condition is seen in both the cases of Myelopathic origin described above, namely, spon- taneous fibrillar contractions of the muscles, increased by allowing the cold air to play on the skin. This at one time was thought diagnostic of this complaint, but cases of this disease have been recorded without these symptoms, and although rare, they have occurred in some examples of the Dystrophies. (c) Mechanical.—Similar local contractions are readily brought out by tapping the muscles with the fingers in Progressive Muscular Atrophy, but not as a rule in the Dystrophies, yet in the case of Harry P , where the Pectorals are getting thin, a local contraction is obtained on tapping with the finger, and the same result is obtainable in the second pseudo-hypertrophic case. This symptom is seen in other diseases, especially those of a wasting character, such as phthisis, etc. (d) Electrical.—There is a difference in the reaction of the two diseases as a rule. In Progressive Muscular Atrophy, there is often a modified R.D. There may be a gradual diminution to both currents when transmitted through the nerves, but the muscles may give a prolonged contraction to the galvanic current, and may respond as readily to this current as under normal conditions, and occasionally even more so. Or the A.C.C. ma}' equal K.C.C. There may be the qualitative change of R.D., without the Voltaic increase. Among the Dystrophies there is a gradual loss of reaction to both currents in proportion to the atrophy—no signs of R D., but Tooth8* states this has been recorded in connection with a case of Myopathic Atrophy. 11. Reflexes.—In the protopathic form of Progressive Muscular Atrophy, there is a gradual loss of all reflexes excepting the organic, (54) St. Bartholomew's Hospital Reports, 1889, p. 143.
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