Syringomyelia (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1897 edition. Excerpt: ...various degrees from partial to absolute loss of pain sense. The prick of a pin is not recognized as painful. So profound is the analgesia in some cases that abscesses have been opened and even fingers amputated and joints excised without a particle of pain. As we have previously mentioned, fractures may occur without any pain being felt. On the other hand, in exceptional cases hyperaesthesia has been recorded in place of analgesia. Charcot explains this by conceiving that the period of destruction of the nerve elements is preceded in some way by a period of irritation. Hyperaesthesia, when present, is more likely to be found in the lower extremities. In estimating the degree of analgesia it should be borne in mind that individuals of the same class at dilferent times vary greatly in this regard, and still more noteworthy is the difference between difl"erent classes of subjects. The subject of dermal pain has been investigated by Mr. Grifling, of Columbia College, New York. He shows that in kilogrammes the required amount. just causing pain was as follows: 1 Kilogrammes. For boys.............................................................................. 4.8 For college students............................................................. 5.1 For law students.................................................................... 7.8 For women......................................................................... 3.6 II. Extrinsic Symplbms.--Symptoms due to 1. Sclerosis of the lateral columns. 2. Sclerosis of the posterior columns. These symptoms are due to alteration of the white substance of the cord, and have been termed by Charcot "symptomes leucomyeliques." They are naturally late in their manifestation, and indicate...