Endemic degeneration / by W.A.F. Browne.

  • Browne, W. A. F. (William Alexander Francis), 1806-1885.
Date:
[1861?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Endemic degeneration / by W.A.F. Browne. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    1/16
    JL ENDEMIC DEGENERATION. BY W. A. F. BROWNE, COMMISSIONER IN LUNACY FOR SCOTLAND. In August, I860, I was requested to visit and examine, pro¬ fessionally and not officially, a family which shall be described in its entirety, as it had been, as well as it then was. I. A female; hydrocephalic. Head covered with a crust. A dwarf; an idiot. Suffered from cephalalgia and became blind. Died when twenty-one. II. A male; a strong, able-bodied, sensible man, who assists his parents as a fisher. III. A female; a weakly child. Died when two years old. IY. Donald, set. 22; height 4 ft. 11 \ in. Looks like a boy of twelve years old. Head large; brows beetling; circumference of head above ears, 23 in.; measurement from nose to occipital pro- ? tuberance, 15\ in.; from ear to ear, 14 J in.; ear to occipital pro¬ tuberance, 6 in.; nose to ear, 5J in.; from head of humerus to condyles, 10 in.; from olecranon to carpus, in.; from head of femur to condyles, 16 in.; from condyles to tarsus, 12\ in. Position of fingers natural; spine straight; teeth regular; palate normal; colour of skin dark, or coppery; eyes dark ; hair black and curled; nose flattened; nostrils distended; lips tumid; urine albu¬ minous ; fgeces clay-coloured. He took a meal in the presence of the reporter without any indication of voracity. It consisted of a very small quantity of fish and milk. He did not use salt, and rarely does. Common sensibility as tested by pinching, pricking,, heat, appeared to be natural. He presents a heavy, dogged aspect, but his features are not repulsive. He is timid, shy. He can walk, wash, and dress himself; works a little, but is feeble and slow. Is intrusted with the charge of his brother and sister during the absence of their mother. Accompanies his father in a boat, but cannot row