Diffuse sclerosis of brain / by Henry Ashby.

  • Ashby, Henry, 1845-1908.
Date:
[1886]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Diffuse sclerosis of brain / by Henry Ashby. 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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    Reprinted from the ' Transactions of the Pathological Society of London,' 1886. Diffuse sclerosis of brain. By Henry Ashby, M.D. [With Plate L] This specimen was taken from a boy, John E. R—, who was 20 months of age at the time of his death. From the history given by the mother, it appeared that she had never suffered from syphilis, and had had no miscarriages. Three days after birth the boy had fits, the t*ight arm and leg being mostly involved, the fits continuing off and on till his admission into the hospital. He has never taken any notice of anybody, has apparently never seen or heard, and only makes inarticulate mumbling sounds. He had snuffles when a few weeks old, but has never had any other manifestation of syphilis. He was seen at 8 months old; at this time he was apparently an idiot, he could not sit up, was evidently bhnd and deaf; the right pupil was larger than the left and there was marked nystagmus; the head was retracted, the right arm and leg flexed, and more or less stiff, the left leg was also in part drawn up. He continued under observation as an out-patient till April 4th, 1885, when he was admitted into hospital. At this time it was noted that he is poorly nourished, head not enlarged, the shape is normal, the fontanelles are closed; the pupils are of medium size, they act normally to light, there is nystagmus, the expression vacant; the respiration is noisy, as if from paresis of the soft palate. He lies in bed with head retracted, face turned to the left side, the right arm rigid, flexed, and cannot be straightened; there is no rigidity of the fingers or wrists, but the fingers are kept closed. The left elbow is rigid, but it is straightened at times. A prick on the fingers makes him start as if in pain. The thighs are flexed, knees bent, the feet are inverted and crossed. There is slight voluntary movement at times; he apparently feels a prick on his toes. There is a blankness and idiotic expression of face ; there is no optic neuritis or atrophy. He remained in much the same condition till death on June 25th, 1885. On examining the body, it was noted on removing the skull- cap, that much fluid escaped from the subdural space, as if the A