2. How shall the negative serum W. R. be explained? Such a reaction is consistent with the diagnosis gumma. It is, however, a little surprising that with active neurosyphilis and a relatively active non-nervous syphilitic lesion like that in this case, the serum W. R. should have been negative. Possibly a repetition of the test at various times would have shown a positive serum W. R. In any event, the fluid reaction was positive.
3. Could the tonsillar ulceration be due to dental infection? The chances are against this on account of the interval (2 months) between extraction of the wisdom tooth and the ulceration, which itself seems to be of a tertiary syphilitic nature. In point of fact, the patient admitted a syphilitic infection 21 years previously namely, at 28 years of age. At that time he took large quantities of mercury and potassium iodid by mouth.
4. Relation of the case of Frank Mason to the so-called lues maligna? The case closely resembled the cases reported by Bly. Frank Mason showed great destruction of tissue, toxemia, failure to react to antisyphilitic treatment. In both of Bly’s cases, the tonsil was the starting point of the illness; and in both cases there was a trauma of the tonsil or peri-tonsillar structures (tonsillectomy and application of caustic). In our case there not only had been extraction of a wisdom tooth, but the tonsil had been cauterized.
Neurosyphilis versus multiple sclerosis.
Case 70. Annie Kelly is a young Irish woman, 21 years of age, who was perfectly well until three months before her admission to the Psychopathic Hospital, when suddenly one evening she became very dizzy. This was followed by a chill and vomiting. The next day she had a sore throat but was able to be about and do her work. The dizziness, however, continued and she began to feel rather queer. Gradually it became difficult for her to walk on account of staggering.
A little later she noticed a weakness of the left side, involving face, arm, and leg; then she began to find it difficult to talk. Finally the right leg became weak, making walking practically impossible. All these symptoms grew worse and the dizziness increased. At times her vision would be blurred; there were somewhat frequent attacks of diplopia. Finally she had to take to her bed, and at last she lost control of her sphincters.
At no time did she suffer any pain. She was taken to a hospital, and after a time improved somewhat; but she was told she had a brain tumor and had better be in a large city, where she could have surgical aid if this became necessary; consequently, she was brought from Montana to Boston.
On admission to the hospital, the examination disclosed no important symptoms outside of the nervous and locomotor systems. She was unable to walk unless assisted. The pupils were large but reacted well to both light and accommodation, were equal in size, and regular. Slight nystagmus was present; there was no ptosis or strabismus; vision in the left eye was poor. The other cranial nerves showed no involvement. The tendon reflexes were all present and very lively; Babinski, Gordon, and Oppenheim signs were present on either side. The ataxia was marked, especially of the lower arms, and she had some difficulty in the alignment of the fingers. The sense of position of the limbs was very poor. There was some tremor, which was not of the intention type. The writing showed some incoördination. The speech showed nothing abnormal. Mental examination disclosed nothing of note objectively, but patient stated she could not think so clearly as she could formerly.
The diagnosis would seem to lie between brain tumor,—which had been suggested to the patient by her physician,—multiple sclerosis, and neurosyphilis. The numerous neurological symptoms without any definite evidence of intracranial pressure were sufficient to rule out for the moment the consideration of brain tumor. The syndrome of multiple sclerosis is not complete, but the race, age, and onset, with the increasing and decreasing intensity of symptoms are very suggestive of this diagnosis. The symptoms, of course, are all consistent with neurosyphilis also, and while the patient denied any knowledge of syphilitic involvement, the examination of the blood and spinal fluid was made. The W. R. was negative in both the blood serum and spinal fluid. Further examination of the spinal fluid showed presence of globulin and an increase in the albumin content, 43 cells per cmm. and a “paretic” type of gold sol reaction. With the negative W. R. of both blood serum and spinal fluid, and with so much in favor of Multiple Sclerosis, this diagnosis was made.
1. What is the relation of multiple sclerosis to syphilis? There is no definite relationship between multiple sclerosis and syphilis,—that is, multiple sclerosis is not a syphilitic disease; but the complete syndrome of multiple sclerosis is often given by a syphilitic involvement of the central nervous system (see case Lauder, 71).