| No. of Case. | Average number attacks per month before treatment. | Average number attacks per month after treatment. | Number of attacks during six months of treatment. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Under 1 Year. | |||
| 1 | 600 | 60 | — |
| 2 | 60 | 6 | — |
| 3 | 8 | — | 3 |
| 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | 4 | — | 2 |
| 6 | 4 | 2 | — |
| 7 | 2 | — | 1 |
| 8 | 2 | — | 1 |
| 9 | 2 | — | 2 |
| 2. From 1 to 5 Years. | |||
| 1 | 600 | 5 | — |
| 2 | 240 | 90 | — |
| 3 | 180 | 60 | — |
| 4 | 90 | 3 | — |
| 5 | 30 | — | 2 |
| 6 | 30 | — | 8 |
| 7 | 30 | 12 | — |
| 8 | 16 | — | 8 |
| 9 | 12 | 3 | — |
| 10 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | 150 | 7 | — |
| 12 | 8 | 2 | — |
| 13 | 6 | 1 | — |
| 14 | 4 | — | 1 |
| 15 | 2 | — | 1 |
| 16 | 2 | — | 2 |
| 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | 1 | — | 1 |
| 20 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 21 | 1 | 150 | — |
| 3. From 5 to 10 Years. | |||
| 1 | 450 | 12 | — |
| 2 | 300 | 3 | — |
| 3 | 900 | 60 | — |
| 4 | 90 | 9 | — |
| 5 | 60 | 1 | — |
| 6 | 30 | 4 | — |
| 7 | 16 | 2 | — |
| 8 | 8 | — | 4 |
| 9 | 8 | — | 3 |
| 10 | 8 | 1 | — |
| 11 | 4 | 1 | — |
| 12 | 3 | 1 | — |
| 13 | 1 | — | 1 |
| 14 | 1 | — | 1 |
| 15 | 1 | — | 2 |
| 4. Over 10 Years. | |||
| 1 | 150 | 1 | — |
| 2 | 120 | 3 | — |
| 3 | 120 | 120 | — |
| 4 | 70 | 20 | — |
| 5 | 60 | 90 | — |
| 6 | 16 | — | 4 |
| 7 | 12 | — | 4 |
| 8 | 8 | 4 | — |
| 9 | 5 | — | 5 |
| 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | 1 | — | 4 |
In this table we observe very singular results in the treatment of this remarkable disease. In most ailments, the longer they have existed and the more chronic they are, the more difficult and imperfect is the prospect of recovery. This does not appear to hold good in the case of epilepsy. For when we analyze the above table we find that the results, on an average, are as satisfactory in those cases in which the disease has existed over ten years as in those which began less than one year before the patient came under observation. For example, we find in section 4 of Table IX. 12 cases in which epilepsy had existed for over ten years prior to treatment; of these, in 2 the attacks were completely arrested, in 1 there was no improvement, in 1 the attacks were increased, and in the remainder the seizures were as beneficially modified as in the other sections. Thus it would seem that we are not to be deterred from treating cases of epilepsy, however chronic they may be, as the results appear to be as good in modifying the attacks in old, as in recent cases.
Table X.—Showing Effects of Treatment by the Bromides in Epilepsy—1. In Healthy Persons; 2. In Diseased Persons.
| No. of Case. | Average number attacks per month before treatment. | Average number attacks per month after treatment. | Number of attacks during six months of treatment. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Healthy Persons. | |||
| 1 | 900 | 60 | — |
| 2 | 600 | 60 | — |
| 3 | 150 | 7 | — |
| 4 | 150 | 1 | — |
| 5 | 120 | 3 | — |
| 6 | 90 | 9 | — |
| 7 | 70 | 20 | — |
| 8 | 60 | 1 | — |
| 9 | 60 | 5 | — |
| 10 | 60 | 90 | — |
| 11 | 30 | — | 2 |
| 12 | 30 | — | 8 |
| 13 | 30 | 12 | — |
| 14 | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | 16 | 2 | — |
| 16 | 16 | — | 4 |
| 17 | 12 | 3 | — |
| 18 | 8 | 2 | — |
| 19 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | 8 | — | 3 |
| 21 | 8 | — | 4 |
| 22 | 8 | 4 | — |
| 23 | 4 | 2 | — |
| 24 | 4 | 1 | — |
| 25 | 4 | 2 | — |
| 26 | 2 | — | 1 |
| 27 | 2 | — | 2 |
| 28 | 2 | — | 1 |
| 29 | 2 | — | 1 |
| 30 | 2 | — | 2 |
| 31 | 2 | — | 1 |
| 32 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | 1 | — | 2 |
| 34 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 35 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 37 | 1 | — | 1 |
| 38 | 1 | — | 1 |
| 39 | 1 | — | 1 |
| 40 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 41 | 1 | 150 | — |
| 2. Diseased Persons. | |||
| 1 | 450 | 12 | — |
| 2 | 300 | 3 | — |
| 3 | 240 | 90 | — |
| 4 | 180 | 60 | — |
| 5 | 90 | 3 | — |
| 6 | 60 | 6 | — |
| 7 | 24 | 1 | — |
| 8 | 12 | — | 4 |
| 9 | 8 | — | 3 |
| 10 | 8 | 1 | — |
| 11 | 6 | — | 1 |
| 12 | 5 | — | 5 |
| 13 | 4 | — | 1 |
| 14 | 4 | 6 | — |
| 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Another important question arises: Does the general health of the patient in any way influence the effects of treatment? In the preceding table those cases are collected in section 1 whose general health was to all appearances robust and free from disease. In section 2. are those in which organic disease could be demonstrated, or in which the condition of the patient was evidently unfavourable.
Here, again, a consideration of the table demonstrates that the condition of the general health has no influence on the successful progress of treatment, as those cases under the head of diseased persons made apparently as satisfactory progress as those in a perfectly robust condition regarding their epileptic symptoms.
As a specimen, the following table shows the result in those cases complicated with a permanent lesion of a motor part of the brain, namely, hemiplegia, and of an intellectual portion, in the shape of idiocy:—
Table XI.—Showing effects of Treatment by the Bromides in Epilepsy complicated with—1. Hemiplegia; 2. Idiocy.
| No. of Case. | Average number attacks per month before treatment. | Average number attacks per month after treatment. | Number of attacks during six months of treatment. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Hemiplegia. | |||
| 1 | 450 | 12 | — |
| 2 | 240 | 90 | — |
| 3 | 30 | 4 | — |
| 4 | 24 | 1 | — |
| 5 | 8 | — | 3 |
| 6 | 8 | 1 | — |
| 7 | 4 | 6 | — |
| 2. Idiocy. | |||
| 1 | 180 | 60 | — |
| 2 | 120 | 120 | — |
| 3 | 60 | 6 | — |
| 4 | 30 | 4 | — |
| 5 | 4 | 6 | — |
Here it may be observed that of 7 cases complicated with hemiplegia, in 1 the attacks were increased after treatment, but all the others were relieved in average proportion. Of the 5 cases in idiots, in 1 there was no improvement, in 1 the attacks were subsequently augmented, and in the others there was improvement. The numbers are far too limited to found any reliable dictum upon; at the same time, it must be admitted that while epilepsy complicated with these grave lesions is perfectly amenable to treatment, this table serves to show that the proportion of non-success is comparatively large.