Systematic case-taking / by Henry Lawrence McKisack.

  • McKisack, Henry Lawrence.
Date:
1912
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Systematic case-taking / by Henry Lawrence McKisack. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    of sight from disease or injury of the eye are a common cause. Of this nature is miner’s nystagmus, due to the continuous use of the eyes in a constrained position in bad light. Irregular forcible contractions occur under a variety of circumstances, and from their resemblance to idio- pathic epilepsy are grouped together as epileptiform attacks or convulsive fits. The latter name should be reserved for convulsive attacks accompanied by uncon- sciousness. The conditions which are likely to produce these clonic spasms belong to three classes : (i) Cortical disease or injury (Jacksonian epilepsy); (2) toxic condi- tions of the blood, causing irritation of the motor centres (uraemia, puerperal eclampsia, diabetes, asphyxia, opium-poisoning, etc.) ; (3) convulsive attacks without known lesions (hysteria, idiopathic epilepsy, infantile convulsions, chorea, and a variety of choreiform affec- tions). (3) Disorderly Movements.—Normal power of muscular contraction is of little use if the muscles do not act properly in harmony. Want of concerted contractions produces irregular and badly-directed movements of the affected limbs, the condition being known as ataxia. or inco-ordination. In health the individual is conscious, without the aid of sight, of the position of his limbs, and, owing to the information conveyed to his sensorium, he knows the amount of energy that is expended in any muscular action. It is this strength sense, or innervation sense, which is the chief factor in producing co-ordinated movements of the body. In order to test co-ordination, the patient is directed to perform a variety of actions without the aid of sight. He is to stand, turn, walk, with his eyes open and then closed ; inability to maintain his balance while