(d) Suddenness of galvanic contraction with subexcitability.
Re decalcification and osteo-articular changes, Babinski points out that the reflex or physiopathic phenomena run historically back to John Hunter, Charcot, and Vulpian. Charcot and Vulpian called especial attention to the peculiar amyotrophy and paralysis which occurred in joint disease, and upon the lack of parallelism betwixt the intensity of the joint disease and the severity of the paralysis or atrophy. The atrophy was without R. D.
Shell-shock: Functional blindness (monosymptomatic).
Case 433. (Crouzon, January, 1915.)
A shell burst above the head of a sergeant in a battle near Neuf château, August 22, 1914. The man was kneeling at the time; felt a terrible shock, slipped prone, lost consciousness and woke in the evening blind. Next day he could hardly distinguish light from dark. Yet the light reflexes were normal; the fundus was normal.
This Crouzon calls the symptomatic triad for functional nerve blindness of Dieulafoy. There have been similar cases following eclipse of the sun and nervous shock. The eclipse cases suggest that the bright flash might have something to do with the sudden blindness (yet blindness has appeared in cases in which the shell burst behind the patient).
The diagnosis of temporary blindness, with a prognosis of early recovery, was made. The neurological examination was normal.
For its suggestive effect, glycerophosphate injections and progressive reëducative measures were adopted. The patient was shown that he could see, first, the contour of objects, then details and colors, then large letters and later small letters. In a month the blindness was almost well. Five months afterwards there was still a certain haze over the field of vision and a slight difficulty in distinguishing certain colors.
Jousset states that aside from visual alterations as the result of cranial trauma, and aside from various transitory amblyopias such as scintillating scotoma, the main varieties of amblyopia are: