Document G5VQ0VLnzZ76QgM6rR6JLQxzY
2k
History
Check up on history taken February, 19^1, yields little nev information. He began work about January 1, 19^1, cleaned still and autoclave 8 or 10 times in the ensuing 2 veeks, vorked the greater part of the time at smelting, and recovery operations, and made all alloys* The onset of his illness vis vith insomnia and terrifying dreams one veek after beginning vork* There vas definite, and in fact, considerable exposure to inorganic lead compounds, both as fume in smelting and alloy manufacture and from dust in sveeping and cleaning.
Progress Note
Left hospital on February 27, 1941. He vas weak and ill at the time. Improved steadily until July 1, since then has been belov par except for improvement in vision, vhich has been steasily better till last month. The rate of Improvement has been slov and as the patient approaches normal, the changes from veek to veek are not apparent to him until borne time has elapsed. The folloving symp toms persisted after leaving the hospital.
Weakness Lossl of veight Diplopia Cough and expectoration Increased sensitivity to tobacco smoke Sense of pressure in chest and inability to sleep on left side. Headaches and tinnitus Nycturia - 2 or 3 times Flatulence, abdominal cramps Diarrhea - 3 movements daily Vertigo
(l) Weakness
This gradually improved until July, but there has been little improvement since. Patient drives truck and handles 10 tqns of coal a day nov. Prior to illness, believes that he vas able to handle 16 to 18 tons a day vithout excessive fatigue. He nov tires easily and is fatigued at bight and in the morning. His sleep is not adequate, as he does not alvays feel rested*
(2) Weight Lo bs
Prior to P.I., weighed 150 lb*, P.V. 142. Moat of the gala has beea up to July 1, with little since.
(3\ Diplopia
This recovered completely by September 1; was noted on looking to the left only. Until September when he was driving, often had visual hallucinations (large black object}. Occasionally mistaken for autos and would inter fere with his driving as he would stop when it appeared* He soon learned, however, that when he would focus or concentrate his vision upon this black object, the hallucination would disappear. It Is questionable whether this was a true hallucination and was not an illusion as his stereopsis was noticeably poor, and the effect could have been produced by coincident vision in two planes.
L&crimation has been continuous symptom since release. Improved slightly in recent months, but with very little change in the last month. Dark adaptation is very poor, night vision poor and has considerable.difficulty with glare in driving or going from light to dark environment. There is no gross lacrimatlon, but the eyes seem unduly moist.
(4) Cough and Expectoration
This has been continuous since leaving the hospital, usually yellow m.p. exp* in the morning. It Is not bad enough to interfere with dally work, and patient states that there has been no recent improvement. In the 2-hour period of the examination and for 30 minutes before and after, the patient did not cough once, but cleared throat once and hacked once la spite of the fact that the room was filled with clgaret smoke* The patient's description of the cough and its time relations strongly suggest that it is due to post-nasal drip*
(5) Smoking
Smoking more than 10 clgarets per day now makes the patient's chest sore and may precipitate coughing attacks. Previous to the present illness he smoked 20 to 30 cigarets without difficulty* Has been no recent improvement. (Patient smoked several clgarets during examination without cough.)
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(6) Pain in Cheat
Shis comes on. especially at night and there is a cramping sensation in the lover left side vhich prevents sleep on that side. There is no recent Improvement and the pain in the left chest is relieved by change in position*
(7) Headaches
Vas relatively free throughout the summer, but these recurred much vorse and have been coming on daily since the middle of September. Bouts are daily for from 1 to 2 hours and on Occasion may last all day vith an uncom fortable sensation in the head, but vithout acute pain. The type of headache is essentially the same but varies in severity. Left fronto-temporal distribution and. may be associated vith! lov-pitched tinnitus. There is no constant time relation to the headaches and he occasionally avakea in the morning vith pain. At other times it comes on during the day. The patient is not certain that it has any definite time relation to eye strain from driving, etc.
(8) Nycturia
This has been regular 2 to 5 times since leaving the hospital. Night volume is not noticeably greater than the day. There vas pain and burning for 3 months at least after discharge* Perineal pain vas marked for several months, especially vhen bovels moved. There is no recent improvement*
(9) Flatulence, abdominal cramps
Gas and full feeling in the stomach have been distressing symptoms since leaving the hospital* There have been frequent abdominal cramps, vhich are not severe or colicky. There has been little change in the past 2 months* Hiccoughs are precipitated by spices, heavy foods and pepper. Unable to eat beansj passes a great deal of gas. Full history.of these symptoms strongly suggest biliary disfunction and achlorhydria.
(10) Diarrhea
Bovels move 3 times dally and are somevhat loose. This has been unchanged for the past 6 months. Prior to P.I, there vere 2 movements per day*
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G. A.
Cil) Vertigo
If perspiring and suddenly ie exposed to cool breeze, attacks of vertigo ensue. These are also very frequent when arising frora stooping position. During the sunnier he had auscae voletantes and dizziness every time he rose from stooping position. This improved beginning in September, 1941. In the summer while working as a floor sender he was particularly annoyed by vertigo and spots when changing positions*
The patient sleeps veil, there are no dreams or insomnia at present, but does not feel rested. There are infreauent pains in the wrist, worse on effort, so that it is sometimes difficult for him to hold a shovel. These pains occasionally radiate to the elbow, this being
particularly noticeable immediately following his dis charge from the hospital.
Eis memory has recovered veil* The patient cannot coneentrate as well as formerly and he believes there has been some slowing of the mental processes. There is increased irritability when fatigued, but no combativeness. He
gets along Veil with people and says that he is a fairly agreeable person unless he is very tired.
Libido returned after 2 months at home. He is now able 1 to 2 times a week, compared to 5 to 4 times prior. He erects with difficulty and has frequent collapse during intercourse. Orgasm is weak and uncertain and occasionally cannot attain. Ho contraceptives are used and there have been no pregnancies since P.I, Sexual functions have shown little improvement in the past month or tiro. Patient does not have an absolute impotence, but history is that of relative impotence due to weakness and fatigue.
Last seen by a physician (Dr, Work) in July, 1941. Ho medication or diet was given. There has been nasal dis charge and catarrh in the mornings regularly. One or the other side of nose is stopped up constantly, and it
is necessary to clear nose and naso-pharynx frequently in the morning.
Physical
T. 98,8
P, 74
R. 25
B.P* 115/76
Hot ill, alert, cooperative, response normal and reason able, Face is ruddy. Skin portions follow elsewhere.
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> 5 <
Head Ears Eyes
Mouth.
Hodes Neck Chest
Abdomen Pelvis
Ext. Rectal Reflexes Sensorium
negative,; hair thick
Hearing OS
Rt. equal It. Wide, regular, reflexes OK, Slight hypus reaction (less than frequently seen in normals). Vertical - E.O.M, uncertain. Left eye tracks poorly and is irregular on up and down movement. There is veakness of the left internal rectus. Convergence is poor on the
left.
Tongue is red at edges vith marginal glossitis and hyper trophy of many papillae. Teeth and gums OK, fauces good color. Palate and pharynx markedly injected# Tonsils are large, svollen and injected and edematous. Both ant. pillars are svollen and Injected,
Lt. tonsillar node enlarged, tender, left epltrochlear shoddy, others not remarkable.
Not remarkable. Both lobes and isthmus thyroid palpable.
Definite droop to right shoulder (right handed). Expan
sion fair, equal - fremitis equal, Insp* 3^" - Full exp,
354-". Kr. 1, rt. 7.0 It, 6.0
P.B. rt, 3.0 It. 5.0
R.S.D, 7.0
R.C.D. 3,0 x 11.5
P.H, clear both sides - W.V, and S.V. clear, equal, veil
transmitted. Apex rate 78, 25 hops 92, 2 minutes 80.
Sounds dlear, general circulation not remarkable.
Doughy, tense* Slight pain, on deep pressure in the left upper quadrant. There are no masses, no muscle spasms
and respiratory movements are normal.
Both rings admit the tip of the finger. Right is larger than the left. There is a slight sac on the right on
heavy pressure* No pain. Genitalia - not remarkable.
Negative, Numerous recent abrasions and scars on legs.
Not done.
All hyperactive - 4 plus. No clonus* Are equal, super
ficial,: active, Hyperreflexla no greater than that occasionally seen in normal young men.
Very acute - epieritic good. Tactile dlscrimation excellent. Perception good and clear, Kinaesthetio and proprioceptive good.
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Muscles Tremors
Mental Diet
Myotatic and myotactic irritability. Muscle tone good* pover good and equal. Ho atrophy. Movements smooth -
no muscle pain*
Hone - extended fingers quiet. There is no static or locomotor ataxia - no adiadoklnesia - pass pointing is good. Cranial nerves are OK, Tongue protrudes in the midline, Masseters and temporals OK. Function satis factory.
Outlook good - sense of humor very good. Memory and orientation good - Insight and judgment very good. Under
standing of behavior and recollection of events of illness is excellent.
The patient eats 2 to 2^ lb. meat weekly. Ho milk and large amount of vegetables. Fast fev months has been limiting choice of foods because of G.E, tract disturbance.
Impression
1} Convalescing T.E.L. intoxication vlth prolonged weakness. 2} Ho evidence of organic residual damage,
15} Chronic sinusitis, 4) Subacute tonsillitis* 5) Postural circulatory inadequacy,
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convulsions and rest. There is
hyper no
evidence of specific damage or of reflex instability In
the circulatory system. The cystitis and the possible
prostatitis are attributed to the frequent catheterizations
in the hospital. The patient is below par as the result
of prolonged serious illness, together with the persistence
of chronic Infections that he has undoubtedly had for some
time.
* Recommendations
(l) Regular medical visits with
(a) Benzedrine - 10 mg. in morning before arising, repeated at 10 a.m., if response is good change to paradrine
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(b) Fortified vitamin intake. loj Adequate diet - gall bladder type. (d) Glasses to aid rectus weakness and fusion difficulty for the time being at least. The eye symptoms and diffi culties are attributed to strain. (e) Discontinue smoking, (f) Treatment of the gastric symptoms - gastric analysis and therapeutic test vith Ethamine and hydro chloric acid. (g) Prostatic examination and examination for cystitis. Prostatic message for impotence. (h) Study of the response of the circulatory system to the postural changes. (i) Hose and throat consultation, especially directed to examination of the posterior ethmoid and sphenoid areas. Cocainization of sphenopalatine ganglion at the time of an acute headache is suggested. (j) Study of the night and day urinary volume vith concentration and dilution tests. This symptom may be the result of cystitis or may be depended upon changes in cir culation, as! result of changes in posture.
(2) Continue at regular outdoor work as usual. (3) Check on blood and urine lead content.
(4) Patient needs supportive and general therapy. Has not been seen by a physician since July, 1941.
(5) The question of the bronchitis may be investigated later, the chest however should be examined at the time of the periodic medical visit.
Dr, Ragnar J. Hess has agreed to follow this patient and will investigate recommended therapeutic procedures.
Hillard Machle, M. D.
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