Lip chorea and paresis of the external pterygoid muscles : commonly called 'stammering' / by Edward Blake.

  • Blake, Edward.
Date:
1890
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Lip chorea and paresis of the external pterygoid muscles : commonly called 'stammering' / by Edward Blake. 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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    movements, to avoid the possibility of inducing an abdominal hernia. Between each of the manoeuvres a quick forced expiration through the mouth is enjoined on the patient, the attendant firmly pressing in the lower ribs at the same time. This is followed by a very long and very slow inspiration through the nose. The air is retained as long as possible, and is then liberated quickly through the mouth. Marked improvement was seen at the end of the first week, and soon afterwards this lady gave evidence in a law court without hesitation. A most careful scrutiny should be made in order to detect all possible sources of peripheric irrita- tion, for certainly many, probably most, choreas are essentially reflex. That points of irritation are more common in boys than in girls, at the period of puberty, may give a partial explanation of the supposed greater frequency of stammering in male than in female subjects. To recapitulate, stammering is probably largely spinal. Audible speech is essentially a spinal function, though under control of a cerebral centre. Vocalization demands three elements, viz., wind, a vocal instrument, modifying methods. These are represented by— (a) The lungs. (b) The larynx. (c) The lips.