Recurrent headaches in children / by Francis Warner, M.D. Lond., M.R.C.P., assistant physician to the London Hospital, and to the East London Hospital for Children.

  • Warner, Francis, 1847-1926
Date:
[1879?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Recurrent headaches in children / by Francis Warner, M.D. Lond., M.R.C.P., assistant physician to the London Hospital, and to the East London Hospital for Children. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Something might also be added of the partial ptosis and pigmentation of the lower eyelid sometimes seen. The muscular condition of the hand in such patients seems to me equally characteristic with that of the face. There is a nervous condition of the hand, as there is a nervous condition of the face, and each can be described in anatomical terms. As the child stands up, holding his hands out before him on a level with the shoulders, palms downwards, and lingers spread out, there may often be seen a peculiar and, I think, character¬ istic condition of the hand. The wrist droops slightly, at the same time the phalanges are extended backwards upon the metacarpus, the second phalanges being slightly flexed, and the ungual phalanx either flexed or in a straight line with the middle phalanx. The thumb is usually simply extended backwards and somewhat abducted from the fingers. I think that this position of the hand may be taken as an item of evidence that the child is of a neurotic habit, with mobile nerve-centres; it may be seen in girls convalescent from chorea, and in others who are weak and nervous. This “ nervous hand ” is sometimes seen more marked on the left than on the right side. I have now under observation a lad and a man, both the subjects of partial hemiplegia apparently from organic disease, in whom this “ nervous hand ” is well seen on the weak side. Twitchings of the fingers were very commonly seen, the movements being usually of independent digits, and most commonly either lateral or flexor, less commonly extensor; the lateral movements appeared the most characteristic. Believing that “ the nervous hand5 5 was owing to the con- , dition of its muscles, and that the condition of its muscles was owing to the condition of certain nerve-centres, the conclusion arrived at was that the position of the hand must indicate the condition of those nerve-centres. Considering the illustrations that Darwin has brought for¬ ward to prove that the emotions are expressed by the exercise of certain muscles, and that in opposite emotional conditions (i.e. opposite conditions of nerve-centres?) the antithesis of i the emotional condition is expressed by an antithesis of the |j muscular condition, my observations were directed by this |i principle of antithesis. A hand almost the antithesis of “ the nervous hand,” and