Spinal caries (spondylitis or inflammatory disease of the spinal column).

  • Smith, Noble.
Date:
1894
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Spinal caries (spondylitis or inflammatory disease of the spinal column). 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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    of the bones, and more of a bending en masse of the trunk to one side. It is a most serious matter that the importance of this com- bination of lateral curvature with caries should be recognised, and I think there can be no doubt that it has not received as much attention in this country as it deserves. This] is especi- ally the case so long as the fashion prevails for treating all cases of weak spine and commencing lateral curvatures by means of long-continued exercises. As already stated, I have met with not a few instances in which this exercise treatment has rapidly developed an obscure case of caries, the lateral deviation which has been present having unfortunately been considered conclusive evidence that no inflammatory disease has been present. That lateral deviation may occur in caries from structural changes has long been recognised, but that lateral curvature of the ordinary scoliotic form should accompany, and even precede the majority, or at least a great number of the Fig. 13. Male, aged 20.J (April 2, 1889). The spine had suffered from a fall, occurring six months previously. It seemed possible there might have been partial fracture at the time of the accident, causing the mal- position of the spine jq $h\s case.