On sporadic cretinism in America / by William Osler.

  • Osler, William, Sir, 1849-1919.
Date:
1893
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On sporadic cretinism in America / by William Osler. 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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    16 ference of the thorax, 54.7 cm.; of abdomen, 51 cm.; it is distinctly pendu- lous. She can only stand with assistance. The epiphyses of the limbs seem'; somewhat enlarged. Intelligence is extremely slight, and she never talks, I but can call the name of the nurse. She is affectionate in disposition, and i on recognizing the Doctor utters a peculiar shrill cry. The Doctor writes that the child looks about the age of three years; is unable to walk or to stand erect without support. The photograph illustrates i a typical cretin. Case XI. (Inmate of the California Home for Feeble-minded Children ' Dr. A. E. Osborne.)—!. N., female, aged probably thirty-five years; nation r ality unknown, supposed to be Irish; no data about the parents. Height , 108 cm.; circumference of the head 56 cm.; measurement from occipui i to root of nose, 35 cm.; circumference of neck, 38.3 cm.; circumference* of thorax, 81.3 cm.; of abdomen, 84 cm. The face is broad and flattened i the skin rough, and hangs in folds over the body ; the complexion is sallow > the hair very scanty and coarse; the teeth are defective, only half a dozei ' in the upper and lower jaws; no thyroid gland is palpable; the spine ii slightly curved. The intelligence is of a low order, but her memory is good. The disposition is docile. She is tractable and affectionate, and forms stronj attachments. She is quick to appreciate a favor, and has a fair sense o , humor. The speech is slow and measured; the voice rather low and raspi: ing. Respiration is slow, and the body temperature is below normal. OPERATIVE MYXCEDEMA. In connection with the subject of myxoedema, I am indebted to Di McGraw, of Detroit, for photographs illustrating the following case i w'hich, so far as I know, is as yet happily unique in American surger; j r —namely, one of operative myxoedema: Case XII.—The patient, George M., is now about thirty years old, and wa operated on March 7, 1881. Complete extirpation of the thyroid. The photc i graph [exhibited] was taken March 30, 1893. A full description of the cas will be published by Dr. McGraw. Suffice it to say here that there ha t been a gradual but progressive change in this young man since the dat of the operation. The hair is scanty and coarse ; the skin thick and rough the subcutaneous tissues very thick ; the integument and underlying tissue : make great ridges on the back and on the hands and feet. The intelligeuc ; is good, but the action of the intellect is slow, and he is unable to do an continuous work or to study. He complains of fulness in the head and rinf ing in the ears when he stoops. Even in standing he is not steady on h feet, and has a tendency to fall. Temperature is normal; pulse, 70 ; respin tions, 20. Heart’s action is normal. Voice is harsh and squeaky.