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Published Online: July 1917

SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SYPHILIS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM AND THE PSYCHOSES : Based Upon an Analysis of II Cases Showing Divergence in the Clinical and Serological Pictures

LAWSON G. LOWREYAuthors Info & Affiliations

Publication: American Journal of Psychiatry

Volume 74, Number 1

https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.74.1.25

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Abstract

1. Of about 2500 cases examined in the last three years, II are sufficiently unusual to be reported on.

2. Of these, four had clinical pictures of dementia præcox; one of constitutional inferiority, and one imbecility; two organic and three paresis.

3. In two cases of dementia præcox, the serology of neurosyphilis was found early. In the other two, only after many years. In all four it was not expected. One case has tabetic symptoms, the others no symptoms of neurosyphilis. The case with tabetic symptoms also exhibits catatomic symptoms.

4. These are the only cases of dementia præecox in the hospital showing such serology, though other cases have positive blood tests.

5. One "hysterical" or "constitutionally inferior" person developed secondary syphilis five years before death. A year before death, the serology of neurosyphilis was demonstrated. Autopsy confirmed this. No clinical symptoms.

6. An "imbecile" developed genuine paresis in the hospital. Autopsy and serologytypical.

7. An "organic" case without signs of paresis gives the serology of it.

8. A case, clinically Huntington's Chorea, gives the serology of paresis, without clinical signs of it.

9. One case, clinically paresis at first, seems now like dementia præcox. Serology positive.

10. One case, clinically paresis, has run an extremely long, stationary course. Wassermann negative in blood and fluid; other tests positive.

II. One case, clinically and serologically paresis, has as his most prominent symptom, and the only one at the present time, auditory hallucinations.

12. We have to do with (a) neurosyphilis in unusual causal relationships, or (b) coincident psychoses and symptomless neurosyphilis.

13. Diagnoses should be based on both clinical and laboratory findings. The neglect of either may lead to improper results.

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Information & Authors

Information

Published In

American Journal of Psychiatry

Volume 74 • Number 1 • July 1917

Pages: 25 - 40

History

Published in print: July 1917

Published online: 1 April 2006

Authors

Details

LAWSON G. LOWREY

Harvard Medical School; Psychopathic Department, Boston State Hospital

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SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SYPHILIS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM AND THE PSYCHOSES : Based Upon an Analysis of II Cases Showing Divergence in the Clinical and Serological Pictures

Abstract

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