The ophthalmoscopic appearances of the optic nerve in cases of cerebral tumour / by C.E. Fitzgerald.

  • Fitzgerald, Charles Edward.
Date:
1874
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The ophthalmoscopic appearances of the optic nerve in cases of cerebral tumour / by C.E. Fitzgerald. 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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    possible doubt that this was a case of very severe meningitis. 'I'lu* patient, a young girl, was in a semi-comatose state when' I made this drawing. She recovered, but tlie siglit is gone, 'riiere is comj)letc atrophy of both optic nerves. I am aware that an objection may here be urged to the effect, tliat if the same appearance can be produced by a cause other than tumour of the brain, such appearance is after all of very little practical value as a diagnostic sign. To this I would answer, that apart from a most careful study of all the symptoms in any particular case, it can scarcely be looked upon as of any special diagnostic value; but that, on the other hand, due regard being paid to those symptoms, it must prove of invaluable assistance in forming a diagnosis. “ My own opinion cer- tainly is,” says Dr. Allbutt,* “ that changes either of a congestive, neuritic, or atrophic character may be found in the disks, at some time or other, in the course of almost all cases of intra-cranial tumour. The diagnosis of a case of this kind is therefore incomplete unless the eye- mirror has been carefully and repeatedly used.”