On athetosis, or imbecility with ataxia / by T. Clay [sic] Shaw.

  • Shaw, Thomas Claye, 1840-1926.
Date:
[1873]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On athetosis, or imbecility with ataxia / by T. Clay [sic] Shaw. 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.

    6/10 (page 6)
    closely to her. side to steady herself. The fore-arms, but especially the right one, are in constant movement of extension, flexion, pronation and supination, and the fingers in the same manner; the contraction passing in the mode described from one to all. . The muscles of the fore-arm are not hypertrophied (thus differing from Dr. Hammond’s cases), but they are very firm; and though she cannot squeeze very firmly, she is yet able to resist extension of the elbow, and can feed and dress herself. Gait very awkward and tabic in form ; yet the muscles of the legs are firm, though small, and she can walk about for hours without assistance. In walking she protrudes the abdo- men and keeps the shoulders well back to preserve the balance, very much in the same way as pregnant women. She has good light hair in abundance, and light eyes ; the ears are well-shaped and symmetrical, and the teeth regular in shape, number and position, nor is the palate high-arched, differing in all these particulars from the usual characteristics of idiots and imbeciles. The head measurements, too, are good, viz. 21 inches in circumference, 12 inches from the auditory meatus of one to that of the other across the top of the head, 13 inches from the root of the nose to the occipital tuberosity. Thyroid not enlarged, and no trace of heart disease. Sensibility of skin normal, and the intelligence fair and does not deteriorate. No history of chorea or other nervous affection of any other mem- ber of the family can be obtained. Case II. PI. H., female, jet. 32, of light complexion, with very good eyes; not epileptic, good teeth, ears, and palatine arch. Slight dorsal spinal curvature to the left side. Face much drawn towards the left side, and spasms of risorius, obiculares, occipito-frontalis, &c. The transverse section of the mouth is very large, and the difficulty'of talking proportionately great. Her intellect is not so developed as in the last case, and though able to feed and dress herself, she cannot read or write. The waves of muscular movements in the extremities are much as those in the last case, and the tongue is protruded and with- drawn just as the head of a tortoise is pushed forward from the shell. The gait is awkward, and balance is preserved by pushing forward the abdomen. Thyroid natural; heart- sounds perfect. Plead measurements good, viz. 20, 12, and 11 inches in the three directions of circumference, across, and antero-postcrior. No history of chorea in the family, nor is