Cases of athetosis / by Francis Warner.

  • Warner, Francis, 1847-1926.
Date:
[1880?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Cases of athetosis / by Francis Warner. 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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    were extended and flexed generally all together, in a slow and rhythmical manner. Pronation and supination were not common; the movements of the wrists were usually confined to flexion and extension of the fingers as described. • The hand was moved when pricked. There was no difference between the similar measurements in the two arms, but there was some rigidity of the right arm. The right leg was weak, but presented no athetosis. The child’s birth was effected by instruments, and then it was noticed that the. head was long and soft at the back. Convulsions occurred the day after birth, then no more till he was four months old, when he was strongly convulsed for four hours and greatly exhausted, but after a day or two he seemed as well as before. At eight or nine months old “ he began to feel his feet,” then his head was noted as enlarging, and he was frequently slightly con- vulsed. The mother is sure that before nine months old he could use his right hand, holding a crust in it, and that this power was gradually lost. The child is still under observation (July 1880) ; no marked change has occurred except a few fits in June. Here the condition of the limb was associated with brain disease and convulsions. The movements occurred in a paralysed arm, and were more limited in extent than in Case I. Double Athetosis not associated with Epilepsy. Case III.—Eliza R., aged 4£ years, came under observation May 43, 1880/ She was a playful, intelligent, pleasing little girl, good and well-behaved, and soon became a general favourite. Her general health was good, and development appeared good in all particulars, but for the athetosis she was well nourished. Her habits were clean, there was no slobbering, and no paralysis, and she never had fits. The child was unable to stand or do anything for herself on account of the movements of the hands and feet, associated with which there was no doubt some want of muscular power. The muscular condition of the head and face appeared natural. There appeared to be a fair amount of voluntary power over the shoulders and elbows, so that she could hold a doll to her. When told to take hold of a toy she brings her hand to it, bnt is unable to open the fingers so as to clasp it; all through the time of this effort the fingers are in constant movement. \\ ben the object is placed in her hand, she clutches it and is unable to drop it. Supporting the left upper extremity free from the trunk by holding the humerus, it was possible to observe the following movements succeeding in a rhythmical manner.