Lectures on the diagnosis and treatment of the principal forms of paralysis of the lower extremities / by C. E. Brown-Séquard.

  • Brown-Séquard, Charles-Edouard, 1817-1894.
Date:
1861
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Lectures on the diagnosis and treatment of the principal forms of paralysis of the lower extremities / by C. E. Brown-Séquard. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    cases of meningitis, of tumor upon the spinal cord, of hemorrhage in the spinal canal (outside of the cord), and sometimes even in the reflex paraplegia, but then only on the introduction of a catheter, or in consequence of some peripheric irritation. This symptom does not exist in cases of non-inflammatory softening, or of hemorrhage, or a tumor in the gray matter of the spinal cord. 6th. Temperature of the Paralyzed Lower Limbs.—In those affections in which there is an irritation of the spinal cord or its membranes (congestion, myelitis, me- ningitis, pressure on the cord by effused blood, a tumor, or a displaced bone, &c.), the lower limbs, and especially the feet, are almost constantly very cold. This symp- tom is the consequence of the irritation of the vaso- motor nerves, which produces a contraction of the mus- cular fibres of bloodvessels, just as the irritation of the nerves of the muscles of the legs, feet, &c., produces cramps, twitchings, &c. In the reflex paraplegia, the feet are also sometimes very cold, in consequence of a reflex contraction of their bloodvessels. In cases of non-inflammatory softening of the lumbar enlargement of the spinal cord, with a complete loss of the vital pro- perties of this part, the lower limbs are almost con- stantly very warm, as a result of the paralysis of the vaso-motor nerves.1 7th. Degree and Extent of Paralysis of the Lower Limbs, the Bladder, and the Rectum.—Of course, great ' See my “Lectures on the Central Nervous System,” Philadelphia, 1860, Lectures X. and XI.