Epilepsy : in what class of cases, and under what circumstances, may we reasonably hope for cure in epilepsy? / by William Camps.

  • Camps, William.
Date:
1866
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Epilepsy : in what class of cases, and under what circumstances, may we reasonably hope for cure in epilepsy? / by William Camps. 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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    donna, with, its alkaloid—atropia—and its salts, such as the sul- phate and valerianate of atropia; these act, as is now well known, as sedatives in cases of undue nervous excitement or irritation. The sulphate and the oxide of zinc have been much vaunted as re- medies in cases of epilepsy, and on occasions have been thought to do good service; hut their real value is still very doubtful. Syiwpathctic or sxym'ptoTnatic epilepsy is in general much more susceptible of successful treatment than the idiofcitlvic variety of the disease; and I think it may be affirmed that this variety of the disease may be almost always successfully treated when the cause which produces it is not in itself incurable; when the part in which the cause is seated can be safely removed, unless, indeed, the disease shall have existed a very long time, since, in such case, it is to be feared that the brain and spinal cord may have acquired, by frequent, habitual repetition of the paroxysms, a strong epileptic tendency or disposition. Should this be so, that is, should this epileptic tendency or disposition have been con- tracted to such an extent as to be confirmed, then, indeed, the removal or destruction of the primary original cause may not suffice for cure, since other causes, originally much less consi- derable or efficient, may then suffice to reproduce the disorder. Those cases in which the paroxysms are produced and repro- duced by any well-ascertained solitary cause, capable of destruc- tion or removal, even although such cause be in itself a strong or violent one, are much more amenable to successful treatment than that class of cases in wdiich the paroxysms are produced and reproduced by causes so slight or trifling, as it is all but impossible to assign to them their real value or importance as factors in the production of the disease. Such great readiness or tendency, such extreme susceptibility to reproduction of the paroxysms, denote an unusually irritable condition of the brain and spinal cord, and may well bid the sternest defiance to our therapeutic resources, however skilfully devised and perseve- ringly applied. The causes giving rise to the sijmpathetic variety of the dis- ease may be seated in the stomach, in the intestines, in the liver and gall-bladder, in the spleen, in the kidneys, in the iirinary bladder, in the organs of generation, and elsewhere in the interior of the body. If situated in the exterior pai’ts of the body, they may be seated at the top of the head, in the upper lip, in the breast, the shoulder, the arms, forearms, or fingers, in the groin, the thigh, and the leg, or in different parts of the foot. The causes giving rise to the idiopathic variety are situated within the cranium, so as directly to affect the brain or upper part of the spinal cord, the medulla oblongata, or the sensorium communa ; and these may be very numerous, including injuries of various kinds, ossifications, syphilitic or scrofidous or cancerous deposits,