Cases of disease of the nervous system in patients the subjects of inherited syphilis / by J. Hughlings-Jackson.

  • Jackson, John Hughlings, 1834-1911.
Date:
1868
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Cases of disease of the nervous system in patients the subjects of inherited syphilis / by J. Hughlings-Jackson. 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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    afterwards I found valvular disease, and she died of the effects of this lesion about a year later.] The eldest living, 20 years of age, is quite healthy, but he had two fits when at school, which, however, his mother says were fainting fits only. It is to be feared, however, they were really epileptic, as it will be seen that his sister Martha had the so-called faints first. Julia has “faints,” followed recently by amaurosis. I have little doubt but that he will have genuine fits in time. [I afterwards saw him for an attack of rheumatic fever.] The next, Martha, aged 16, is the patient who has severe epilepsy. She walked and talked early, but at the age of three months she had a swelling of the right elbow, then in the other joints, then in the back. She was ill three weeks and was then well, and kept well generally until she had the fits. About a year before the fits she had measles, followed by whooping-cough, but has had no cough nor any evident tuberculous symptoms since. When ten years old she began to have attacks, in which at first she was simply giddy, and her mother said “ would almost fall •” sometimes, when standing up she would shake all over. Up to this time she had been quick and intelligent, but now study was interdicted, and she was sent into the country. A month later, in spite of this care, she had her first severe attack of convulsion. At first she had a fit once a month, and gradually oftener. Careful inquiries were made as to “ convulsions” in infancy, teething, worms, injury, etc., but there was nothing positive found. She had never menstruated. She was thin, pale, and languid; and her mind was defective. She would sit for hours and take no notice, especially afta' the fits. She would then sometimes cut up the sheets or stand naked, but before the attacks her mind was said to be clear and she behaved properly. Her temper was rather perverse, but she was never violent. Masturbation had been suspected, and she had been very carefully watched, but it was never de- tected. Her teeth were well formed. She was convulsed on both sides, and she had no “ aura” from a limb. She had the sensation at the epigastrium so common in what is called