On softening of the brain arising from anxiety & undue mental exercise and resulting in impairment of mind / Forbes Winslow.

  • Winslow, Forbes, 1810-1874.
Date:
1849
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On softening of the brain arising from anxiety & undue mental exercise and resulting in impairment of mind / Forbes Winslow. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    extreme ramollissement. Under these circumstances, the finger passes easily through its walls. The brain, then, is not the only organic structure liable to ramollissement. In considering this subject, the following points will be discussed seriatim. I think it, however, necessary to premise, that it is not my purpose to state in detail all the points of dispute among pathologists in reference to this disease. I shall confine myself principally to the most important facts, leaving the minutiee for subsequent discussion. I purpose considering, 1. The pathological character of Ramollissement of the Brain; 2. Its seat; 3. Its causes; 4. The period of life at which it occurs; 5. Its physical and mental symptoms; 6. Its treatment. I then purpose directing the attention of the Society to that form of ramollissement most generally allied to impairment of mind—the frequent result of over anxiety and excessive mental application. Ramollissement of the brain is understood to be, according to Lallemande's definition, a liquefaction of a part of the substance of the brain, the remainder pre- serving its natural consistence. He lays a stress on the word part, because, as he observes, if the whole of the brain were soft, we should have some difficulty in deciding whether the change was pathological in its character. Softening may, as Dr. Watson observes, vary in degree, from the consistence which naturally belongs to the cerebral substance to that of thin cream. In its minor degree, it may be easily overlooked, and is