Craniectomy for idiocy with notes of a case / by T. Telford-Smith.

  • Telford-Smith, Telford.
Date:
[1897]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Craniectomy for idiocy with notes of a case / by T. Telford-Smith. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.

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    Up to the age of about three years the patient's mental deficiency i was largely a matter of conjecture. At about two years walking > began to be attempted, but speech has never manifested itself, and up to the present the patient does not articulate. His senses of sight and hearing seem normal, and, as far as can be ascertained, his senses of smell, touch, and taste are not deficient. There are no signs of any paralysis, tbe limbs are in perfect use, and the patient can walk and run unaided. He can use his hands suffi- ciently to feed himself with a spoon, but he cannot dress himself. His habits are faulty; he is occasionally wet and dirty. In manner- he is rather restless, and inclined to be fretful, but he has a fair • amount of curiosity, although little power of fixing his attention. He has rather a comely face, with well-formed features ; eyes, ears, nose, and mouth are normal in shape and size. Palate considerably | higher than normal. Teeth well placed and sound; slight ten- dency to dribble. Skin healthy, although rather pale. I have no record of the boy's head measurements taken before he was operated on, but, judging from his present measurements, I! think the case could hardly be classed as one of microcephalus; from the history of the patient I think we might more correctly r describe it as a case of traumatic idiocy, the traumatism being; due to prolonged labour and asphyxia at birth. Judging from the: boy's rather saddle-shaped palate, and from his mother's somewhatt emotional nature, there may be superadded a slight congenital tendency to mental feebleness. April, 1897. Head Measurements, R. H., in inches. Circumference Transverse (a) (J) Longitudinal (c) ™ W Width of Forehead 19f 12J 4i 12* H Circumference taken above ears and over occipital tuberosity. Transverse (a).—Tape measure from ear to ear over vertex. t 'V (J)/-CalliPer Longitudinal (c).—Tape measure from nasal notch to occipital tuberosity. _ ,. (d).~Calliper „ „ „ Width of forehead between external angular processes of frontal. Shape off head: Brachynephalio. Cephalic index: 82. Measurements, E. H. Date. Age. Height. Weight. Inches. lbs. April, 1897. 8 years. 42} 45