Four cases of spinal myosis : with remarks on the action of light on the pupil / by D. Argyll Robertson.

  • Douglas Argyll Robertson
Date:
1869
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Four cases of spinal myosis : with remarks on the action of light on the pupil / by D. Argyll Robertson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by UCL Library Services. The original may be consulted at UCL (University College London)

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    FOUR CASES OF SPINAL MIOSIS, George Smith, ^t. 51, tailor, applied to me for advice on account of dimness of sight. He stated that he enjoyed good health until July last year, when one very hot forenoon, while crossing the North Bridge, he felt giddy and faint, but managed with some difficulty to walk home. The following day he experienced pain in his back, extending to his legs, increased while taking exercise. His back was also tender on pressure. He had, moreover, twitch- ings, and occasional numbness in his legs, especially the right, with want of power, so that in walking he staggered, and had to use a stick. He could not stand steadily in the dark, but had to grasp at some object for support. He at this time complained of dull pains in his forehead, and noticed that his water constantly dribbled away. These symptoms prevented him continuing more than a few hours daily at work. He did not observe his sight affected till the end of December, when he discovered that the sight in his right eye was dim. Since then the sight has neither improved nor de- teriorated, while with his left eye he sees as well as he ever did, but he has noticed that objects appear darker than they used to do, and that he requires more light while working than formerly sufficed. He is not conscious that his face flushes more readily than natural. On examination, I found that while walking his gait was unsteady, and that he could not plant his feet firmly on the ground. He also exhibited considerable awkwardness in turning. He stood erect with his eyes closed, but swayed a little from side to side. On looking at the eyes, the drooping of the lids and the small size of the pupils at once attracted attention. The drooping of the lids was more marked in the left than the right eye—the left palpebral aperture at the widest point measuring only 3|- lines, while the right measured 4 lines. Each pupil measured f line in diameter; they were insensible to the influence of light, but contracted to ^ line during the act of accommodation for a near object. Under repeated instillations of a strong solution of sulphate of atropine, the right pupil became dilated to a little beyond medium size, so that it measured 2J lines in diameter, and was quite immobile.
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