MEDICAL JOURNAL University of Western Ontario April, 1949
Vol. 19
No.2
CASE REPORT By
CHARLES F. S. FISHER, M.D . Res ident in M edici ne, Vi ctori a H ospital, London. Ontario
52-year-old lady was admitted to the Medical Service, Victoria T HISHospital January 8, 1949. Her complaints on admission were:
(1) Progressive loss of strength over the last two years. (2) Nausea and vomiting for the past six weeks. (3) Recurrent headaches. ( 4) Some recent difficulty with gait because of leg weakness. Two years ago the patient was first troubled with itching on the anterior surface of her legs. This was followed by a local erythema, and the appearance of small to medium sized raised spots. Her doctor diagnosed these as "hives," and gave her various types of local applications which seemed to relieve the itching, but which did not prevent its recurrence. This rash almost completely left about two weeks before admission, leaving only a few small residual scabs. Although the patient felt that she had progressively lost strength over this two-year period, she had been able to work in the fields and help with the harvesting last fall. Weakness, however, had become increasingly more evident in the three or four weeks previous to admission, so. that on admission some loss of strength was evident. This weakness was bilateral and was associated with no sensory change with the exception of the above-noted pruritus. Nausea and vomiting had come on in the six weeks preceding admission. It had been associated with some anorexia. It followed meals. Vomitus was undigested food. There was no hematemesis. Headaches had been present many years, and were associated with emotional tension. Past history revealed an attack of "Yell ow Jaundice" when the patient was in her early twenties. Functional inquiry revealed a weight loss of approximately ten pounds in the last two years. She had had occasional ankle edema, after being on her feet all day. Shortness of breath had occurred with unusual exercise. She had had no unusual pain, except the above-mentioned headaches. Bowel habits had been unchanged, but in the last month or two, stools had been clay colored . She had noted no unusual urinary symptoms, but stated that urine had been darker recently. 43