Pathological and practical observations on diseases of the abdomen : comprising those of the stomach and other parts of the alimentary canal, oesophagus, caecum, intestines and peritoneum / by S.O. Habershon.

  • Habershon, S. O. (Samuel Osborne), 1825-1889.
Date:
1888
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Pathological and practical observations on diseases of the abdomen : comprising those of the stomach and other parts of the alimentary canal, oesophagus, caecum, intestines and peritoneum / by S.O. Habershon. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    nerve, and thereby caused the dysphagia and other symptoms of disease.* Paralysis of the soft palate must also be mentioned in con- nection with diseases of the tonsils and adjoining parts. In paralysis from disease of the brain, and in ordinary apoplexy with hemiplegia, the diminished power of the tongue and of the muscles of deglutition leads to marked dysphagia; sometimes also local growth of a syphilitic or cancerous character exerts pressure on the hypoglossal and other nerves, and leads to diminished power ; this is especially observed in that interest- ing class of cases designated labio-glosso-laryngeal paralysis. The spinal accessory nerve is probably in these instances implicated, the muscles of the face are weakened, so also the tongue, but it is especially in the soft palate and in the mus- cles of the pharynx that the loss of power is observed ; the soft palate remains powerless and flaccid, and sensibility is lost. The attempt to swollow may be followed by the passage of food into the larynx, and in a case of this kind under my care in the clinical ward of Guy's in 1874, recorded in the ' Guy's Keports/ directions had been given to feed the patient by the stomach-pump, but in the attempt to swallow milk a portion passed into the larynx and greatly hastened a fatal termination. Loss of power of the soft palate is also observed to follow diphtheria. These latter cases slowly recover, so also where the weakness is consequent upon the full use of bromide of potassium; such patients complain of inability to swallow, with weakness and mental inertia. The voice is altered, especially so where the tongue is affected, as in cases of labio-glosso-laryngeal disease. The treatment in these maladies necessarily varies according to the nature of the case, but Faradisation is often of great value in strengthening the muscles of the soft palate. The semi-paralysed condition of the palate found after the free use of bromide of potassium soon disappears with a cessation of the remedy. We have already referred to a * A valuable collection of cases of primary disease of the tonsils is to be found in a paper by Mr. Poland, On Cancer of the Tonsil Glands, ' Medico-Chir. Review,' 1872, p. 477. Three cases of cancerous disease of the tonsil have recently occurred in Guy's Hospital, and for a very interesting case with cancer of the spleen and lymphatic glands see ' Path. Soc. Trans.,' vol. xx, p. 369, by Dr. Moxon.