Contributions to the study of insanity and its treatment, &c., &c.

  • Clouston, T. S. (Thomas Smith), 1840-1915.
Date:
1863-[1870]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Contributions to the study of insanity and its treatment, &c., &c. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    24th Jan.—To-day twitching of fingers only, except when she does any voluntary movements. More power of volun- tary movement in left leg than right, which is almost para- lysed. Right knee slightly swollen. Reflex movement slight, and more in left than right leg. Tongue twitches when put out, and goes towards right side. Temp, the same. She has hallucinations of sight and touch, saying that an old woman comes behind her and eats her food, so that she cannot get any of it, and that one foot has been cut off. Is depressed, weeps and groans. 29th Jan.—Has had a relapse ; chorea worse in left arm ; complains of pains in arms and legs. Complains of a burning feeling all over her. A large slough forming in right buttock, where it had been bruised. She complains much of the pain of this. She still can't tell quite the place touched on her legs, but when pinched she screams. Requires to be fed with a spoon, shows an aversion to food, though she is evidently hungry. M. T. 100°, E. T. 99°, M. P. 116, E. P. 116. She has no affection of sight, no sparks or motes before eyes. 5th Feb.—She now has so far recovered the power of her legs that she can stand. Chorea almost gone when she is making no voluntary movements. Mentally a mixture of stupor and depression, as before, and the hallucinations of sight and touch remain. M. T. 99.8°, E. T. 101°, M. P. 120, E. P. 120°. She gradually improved, and her temperature fell until, on the 19th February, she was reported as having only very slight chorea in hands, but as still complaining of the pains in legs. Mentally she was still confused, but her memory was returning. M. T. 98.2°, E. T. 98°, M. P. 94, E. P. 100. She did not progress quite steadily, for on the 23rd Feb. her M. T. was 99.2°, E. T. 99°, M. P. 100, E. P. 108, and was some days worse with the chorea than others ; but yet she was so far improved as to be, on the 15th March, out of bed nearly all day, able to walk, but the reflex action was much impaired in legs, and the left hand partially paralysed, and she had the sensation as if she did not feel the ground under her feet. Tongue now is simply unsteady when put out. Mentally less depressed, but confused; very sceptical and very much inclined to hide herself from observation ; fancies she is watched. Temp, down to 97.8° in the morning. Is 1201bs. in weight. 2nd April.— Believes now what she is told, and is almost rational; but her right hand is swollen, though quite painless.