ANOREXIA
WEAKNESS
Chart 27
On the physical side, it is interesting to note that the ophthalmoscopic examination upon Mrs. Rivers’ first admission to the hospital was entirely negative, whereas a week later, pronounced difficulty with vision appeared so that in a few days she was able to make out only very large type. The fundi now showed hazy and indistinct disc outlines, with small yellowish areas of fatty degeneration above the disc, reduction of arterial calibre, and dilated and somewhat tortuous veins (no projection of papillæ), so that the ophthalmological diagnosis was chronic neuritis.
The physical examination otherwise was mostly negative. The skin presented irregular areas covered with silvery scales over the arms and chest, back, abdomen, and legs (the patient had had psoriasis several years before). Both pupils reacted to light and distance, though the right was slightly larger than the left and somewhat irregular. There was a slight tremor of the tongue and extended fingers. The reflexes were active, especially the knee-jerks; no abdominal reflexes could be obtained. The serum W. R. was positive, but the spinal fluid W. R. was negative. The spinal fluid showed but 3 cells per cmm., but there was a positive globulin test and an excess of albumin.
Diagnosis: After the symptoms had fully developed, it became clear from the optic neuritis, headaches, and vomiting that a condition of intracranial pressure existed. In view of the positive serum W. R., it is natural to conceive that the agent producing the intracranial pressure was a gumma.
It is, of course, possible that a marked degree of meningitis might be so localized as to produce the same symptoms. The diagnostician would crave a pleocytosis of the spinal fluid if a diagnosis of meningitis is to be made; and there was no such pleocytosis. On the whole, we do not feel that it is possible to make a diagnosis either of Meningitis or of Gumma.
Treatment: Treatment, however, caused a disappearance of all symptoms. The treatment consisted of but one injection of 0.3 gram of salvarsan, followed by a few injections of mercury; whereupon Mrs. Rivers became much brighter, recovered her vision, lost her headaches, ceased to have convulsions or vomiting spells.
1. Is salvarsan contraindicated in cases with involvement of the optic or auditory nerves? Such a contraindication exists according to prevailing opinion. In this particular case, a hemorrhagic retinitis occurred after the injection of salvarsan, but this retinitis disappeared along with the other symptoms. On the whole we believe that in many cases of optic or auditory nerve involvement salvarsan should be used. However, one should never lose sight of the possibility of untoward results and should advise such treatment only when other treatment seems inefficient.
TABETIC NEUROSYPHILIS (“tabes dorsalis”) may show very marked improvement as a result of intraspinous therapy.