A Treatise on diseases of the nervous system / By William A. Hammond.

  • William Alexander Hammond
Date:
1871
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A Treatise on diseases of the nervous system / By William A. Hammond. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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

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    vertebral substance. I removed the instrument, and, treat- ing liim for spinal irritation, he recovered his health in a few weeks. Pain in the spinal cord, in the disorder under consider- ation, is usually seated near the point of external tender- ness, tliou<^h it is often at a distance, and sometimes is felt throughout the whole extent of the cord. The eccentric phenomena bear a distinct anatomical and physiological re- lation to it, as do those which are connected with spinal tenderness. There is likewise a similar connection existing between the pain in the cord and the vertebral tenderness. To ascertain the existence of spinal pain, when it is not spontaneoiisly felt or superinduced by muscular exertion, percussion should be practised. The ends of tlie fingers will answer for this purpose, though I prefer a little vul- canized india-rubber hammer, and a plessimeter, such as are sometimes used for percussing the chest. Even over spots which exhibit much tenderness, the deep-seated pain in the cord itself can clearly be distinguished. Eccentric Stimptoms.—By far the most important and noticeable symptoms of spinal irritation are to be found in distant parts of the body. Tliese vary in their character and seat, according to the part of the spinal cord affected. Following the example of the Griffins, I shall consider these symptoms as they depend upon irritation of the several re- gions of the cord with which they are connected. a. The Cervical Region.—Of the cases upon wliich this paper is based, in twenty-five the irritation existed in the cervical region only, of the spinal cord; in tliirty-seven, tlie cervical tenderness was conjoined with dorsal tenderness, and in fifteen with tenderness of the whole spine. Taking the uncomplicated cases as presenting the clearest features, the following would appear to be the more prominent symp- toms of cervical spinal irritation. Vertigo was an accompaniment in eleven cases, and headache in fifteen; noises in the ears in eight, and disturb-