Remarks on a case of porencephaly / by G. A. Gibson.

Date:
1898
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Remarks on a case of porencephaly / by G. A. Gibson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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

    6/18 (page 164)
    EEMAEKS ON A CASE OF POEENCEPHALY. By G. A. Gibson, M.D., D.Sc., E.E.C.P.Ed., Senior Assistant Physician, Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh \ and W. Aldren Turner, M.D., F.E.C.P. Bond., Physician to the Hospital for Epilepsy and Paralysis, and Assistant Physician, West London Hospital. (Plates IV.-VI.) Amongst tlie patliological conditions giving rise to infantile hemiplegia, those attended by atrophie processes affecting the cerebrum possess deep interest, on account of the difficulties surrounding their causation. Every case belonging to this category is worthy of attention, since it may, even if not giving definite facts of etiological value, aid in the comprehension of the conditions in which it is likely to arise. The circumstances in which tlie illness of the patient, whose case is about to be re- corded, arose, are of value as leading to inferences in regard to the probable eauses of the disease, although no real information is to be obtained of a pathological kind. Clinical features.—J. F., 03t. 22, engaged in household occupations at her parents’ home, was admitted to the Deaconess Hospital on the recommendation of Dr. Veitch, on 27th January 1895, on account of severe epileptic convulsions. Both of the patient’s parents were alive and well, as were also all the members of the family. At the time of her birth they belonged to the well-to-do artisan class, but at the time of the patient’s admission to the hospital they had sunk, from various causes which it is unnecessary to specify, into a condition approaching destitution. Apparently the illness for which the patient was admitted, dated from birth. The labour had been a somewhat tedious and very difficult process, and delivery had been effected by instrumental aid, leading to some damage to the patient’s head. Three days after her birth the child is said to have looked nervous, whatever that may mean at such a tender age, and to have been attacked by convulsions, which continued for three days. The motor disturb- ance was almost entirely confined to the left side. After the convulsions had passed away, the child seemed to progress favourably; but by and by it was observed that, when she began to touch objects, the left hand was paralysed. Her mother had no doubt that the paralytic condition had persisted unnoticed from shortly after the birth of the child. The child appeared to be remarkably healthy, and was rather plump. It was, however, observed that she did not attempt to walk at the usual age; indeed, no progress in that direction was made until she wa between 3 and 4 years of age. At this period her mother had hei attention directed to a want of symmetry in the shape of the skull. When somewhere about the age of 7, the patient was sent to school where she learnt without any great difficulty to read and to spell. Writ ing, however, she was never able to learn, being only able to copj letters and words when her hand was guided. Her hearing and sigh