On scrivener's palsy and its treatment by galvanization of the cervical sympathetic nerve / by Julius Althaus.

  • Althaus, Julius, 1833-1900.
Date:
1870
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On scrivener's palsy and its treatment by galvanization of the cervical sympathetic nerve / by Julius Althaus. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    anatomical changes really occurred in scrivener’s palsy, it would be impossible to comprehend the immediate and ex¬ traordinary feeling of relief and improvement which is, in many cases, effected by one or two applications of the con¬ tinuous galvanic current. From looking at these facts, and also at the permanent recovery which can be obtained by a prolonged galvanic treatment such as will be presently de¬ scribed, I have arrived at the conclusion that there are much slighter changes of nutrition than Mr. Solly would lead us to assume, viz., constriction of the small arteries, dilatation of the veins, and slight serous effusions compressing the nerve-cells, and leading to imperfect nutrition of the same; that is to say, changes which we know to yield, if occurring in other organs, to the catalytic influence of the continuous galvanic current, which produces a proper dilatation of the blood-vessels, and thus allows serous effusions to be absorbed, and the finer processes of nutrition to be fairly carried on. That the motor nerves and muscles do not suffer in scri¬ vener’s pals}^ is evident to the most superficial examination. The muscles are often in splendid condition, and every simple movement of the arm and hand can be performed with the greatest ease. The patients generally say that there is nothing wrong with the hand itself, and offer to show you great feats of muscular power which they can accomplish with the hand and arm. They grasp your own hand with the power of a vice; they bang the table with force, and express their astonishment at there being so much power, and yet so little ability for that peculiar act which they desire above all things to accomplish, and which is to many of them a matter of life and death, as poverty stares them in the face in the event of their being obliged to throw up their employment. In certain cases some other complicated acts, for which the skilful co-ordination of a number of muscles is required, appear troublesome. Some years ago I had a patient under my care who was an ardent admirer of the master works of the great classical composers, and whose only enjoyment