Cases of tetany, hysterical contraction, and reflex contraction, illustrating varieties of chronic functional spasm / by Henry Hun.

  • Hun, Henry, 1854-1924.
Date:
[1888]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Cases of tetany, hysterical contraction, and reflex contraction, illustrating varieties of chronic functional spasm / by Henry Hun. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    are firmly held in a position half “clawed” and half “ obstetric ” and at times are held rigidly so by an acute attack of spasm. Such spasms can be in- duced by firm and constant pressure applied just below the axilla over the course of the vessels and nerves, and when such pressure is applied, the patient first complains that her hand is cold and then the spasm comes on. Pressure on the ulnar nerve behind the elbow does not produce the spasm. The facial nerve does not show *any exaggerated irritability to mechanical excitation. The super- ficial and deep reflexes seem to be normal, but the constant spasm interferes with their full develop- ment, and the same spasm prevents any satisfactory electrical examination. Absolutely no disturbance of tactile, painful, or thermic sensibility can be de- tected. No ovarian or spinal tenderness. The patient remained in the hospital until March 24, 1888. Once she was etherized, which caused a complete relaxation of the muscular contraction, and, when in this condition, her joints were moved freely in all directions. The attacks of acute spasm became less and less frequent, and, finally, ceased entirely, but the tonic contraction continued un- changed. She continued to act in a childish man- ner and had one or two brief attacks of insanity. Hot baths seemed to produce some relaxation of the / muscular contraction at first, but she obtained most relief by being in a very cold room and having but little clothing. Tonics, bromide of potassium, hyos- cyamine and other remedies which were tried pro- duced no good effect.