A study of a case of family periodic paralysis / John K. Mitchell.

  • Mitchell, John K. (John Kearsley), 1859-1917.
Date:
1899
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A study of a case of family periodic paralysis / John K. Mitchell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    corpse, able to walk about the ward at seven o'clock with all his mus- cular power, his reactions and reflexes, in normal condition. Once at least in the course of the several months the patient was under observation he seemed to have a kind of abortive attack, in which during some days he felt dull and had the same sense of lack of complete muscular power which usually precedes a paroxysm. At the same time his color was poor and his appetite not so good as usual. Knee-jerks during the Avhole of this period were found to be occasion- ally absent, though reinforcible, and at other times capriciously present, but always diminished. It should be added that this was during a time when he was taking bromide in moderate doses. One important fact developed somewhat late in the case, or at least had not been previously observed. Upon my remarking that I should give him injections of Brown-Sequard's elixir, and that it might have an effect in stimulating the sexual functions, he laughed and begged not to have it, because he said there was sufiicient stimulation in the attacks already, and that very often he suffered with partial or complete erection during the period of paralysis. [Copy of letter from the patient's maternal uncle, Mr. C. H. W., dated January 29, 1899.] Dear Sir: I am perfectly willing to give you all the information in my power, but hardly know where to begin. I have been subject to the attacks you refer to from the time I was twelve years old, but have never been completely prostrated since my marriage, sixteen years ago. The disease (or spells, as we call them) would sometimes come on me during the night, and, while feeling all right at bedtime, would be per- fectly helpless on waking in the morning. At other times they would come on me gradually, and I could feel myself slowly losing control of my limbs, and finally became helpless; sometimes I could, by keeping in motion, keep from total collapse. I suffered no pain of any descrip- tion unless my limbs were cramped, but was perfectly helpless, could move neither hand nor foot, but seemed to have complete control of my talking apparatus, and, with the exception of being helpless, I usually felt exceptionally well. My sense of feeling was normal, but the sense of motion completely gone. I noticed that the attacks were more fre- quent in damp weather; also, that they were sometimes brought on by unusual exertion. My daughter has suffered from the same disease, but has been com- pletely prostrated only a few times, and as it happened at a time when I was away from home, I will hand your letter to our family physician, Dr. H. L. Mcllhenny. [Copy of letter received from Dr. H. L. Mcllhenny, Norwich, Kansas, March 10, 1899.] My Dear Doctor : In reply to your letter of February 2d, will say that I am personally acquainted with Mr. W. and family, to whom you refer in your letter.