On myxoedema, a term proposed to be applied to an essential condition in the 'cretinoid' affection occasionally observed in middle-aged women / by William M. Ord.

  • Ord, William M. (William Miller), 1834-1902.
Date:
1878
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On myxoedema, a term proposed to be applied to an essential condition in the 'cretinoid' affection occasionally observed in middle-aged women / by William M. Ord. 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.

    9/30 (page 7)
    The second case which I shall quote is that of a lady, rct. 36, who came under my notice in 1863, and remained more or less under my care till her death in 1870. When I first saw her she was extremely stout, puffy in the skin, and unwieldy. Her face had a tranquil expres- sion, but the surface was waxy and transparent, the eyelids were greatly swollen, and she had the delicate blush on the cheeks. At first sight she appeared to be suffering from renal disease, but on examination no evidence whatever of its existence could be found. The swollen transparent state of skin prevailed in all parts of the body; the lips were blubbery, the tongue was swollen and was protruded slowly, the fauces were swollen without congestion, and the neck was creased with gelatinous-looking folds. The hands and feet were bulky and broad in proportion to their length. The vulva and os uteri displayed the same condition to a marked degree, and the rectum and anus owing to the soft swelling of the mucous membrane offered a serious obstacle to defalcation. It may be remarked that the condition of the genital organs did not prevent conception. She was twice pregnant within the seven years, and on each occasion went her full time. Although her weakness caused great anxiety, her labours were not unfavorable, excepting that that there was some excess of haemorrhage. The skin except on the face was rough and indisposed to perspiration. These conditions which had been slowly developed during the three years preceding my first knowledge of her, were attributed by her to a very rapid succession of pregnan- cies. Before marriage she had been slight and active. Her parents were both living, and there was no unhealthiness in her collateral relatives. As in the former case there was no history and no indication of syphilis. Associated with the foregoing were three marked sets of symptoms:—1st. A remarkable slowness of thought and action; 2nd. A distinctively slow articulation; 3rd. A slow- ness in muscular action, and an incapacity for the mainte- nance of muscular effort. 1. Under the first head it must be noted that, though