“Bourneville’s disease”, tuberous sclerosis, epiloia (p. 81). Digital facsimile from biuSante.parisdescartes.fr at this link.

For the history of the understanding of this disease see the remarkable Wikipedia Timeline of tuberous schlerosis.

First description of “Morvan’s disease” – a form of syringomyelia.

“Westphal’s pseudosclerosis”. Later Strümpell’s description of this condition (No. 4709) led to the eponym “Westphal–Strumpell disease”.

“Pelizaeus–Merzbacher disease” (see No. 4715).

“Strümpell’s disease” – hereditary spastic spinal paralysis, previously described by Erb and by Charcot.

Sachs described the cerebral changes in amaurotic familial idiocy. Earlier, Tay (No. 5918) had recorded the ocular manifestations of this condition, which became known as “Tay-Sachs’s disease”. Two further papers on the subject by Sachs are in the same journal, 1892, 17, 603-07; 1896, 21, 475-79.

First complete description of syringomyelia.

“Leyden’s (acute) ataxia”.

“Pick’s disease” – circumscribed atrophy of the brain with the development of aphasia and presenile dementia.

One of the earliest accounts of bilateral athetosis (“Vogt syndrome”, No. 4720).

Original description of hereditary cerebellar ataxia.

Freud gave an excellent description of the various forms of cerebral palsy, with precise classification of the different spastic symptoms; he also mentioned the extra-pyramidal symptoms. This work forms Bd. IX, II Theil, II Abt. of H. Nothnagel’s Specielle Pathologie und Therapie.  Translated into English by Lester A. Russin as Infantile cerebral paralysis (Coral Gables: University of Florida Press, 1968.)

“Westphal-Strümpell disease” – pseudosclerosis of the brain. (See also No. 4702.) Probably cases of Kinnier Wilson’s disease.

First full description. Order of authorship in the original publication: Russell, Batten, Collier.

First description of unilateral progressive ascending paralysis (“Mills’s disease”).

Batten disease, a fatal disease of the nervous system that typically begins in childhood. Onset of symptoms is usually between 5 and 10 years of age. Often, it is autosomal recessive. It is the common name for a group of disorders called the neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs).

See No. 4713.1

“Batten-Mayou disease”, juvenile amaurotic idiocy (see also No. 4712).

Spielmayer-Vogt disease, or Spielmeyer-Vogt-Sjögren-Batten disease, the juvenile form of cerebromacular degeneration.

First description of unilateral descending paralysis.

See No. 4713.1. Reprinted in Histologische und Histopathologische Arbeiten über die Grosshirnrinde (Nissl), 1908, 2, 193-213.

“Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease”, familial centrolobar sclerosis (see also No. 4703).

First description of torsion-spasm, dystonia musculorum deformans; also called “Ziehen–Oppenheim disease” following reports of cases by these writers in Neurol. Zbl., 1911, 30, 109, 1090.

Olivo-ponto-cerebellar atrophy. English translation in Rottenberg & Hochberg, No. 5019.14, pp. 219-51.

Classic description of progressive familial hepatolenticular degeneration (“Wilson’s disease”), first described by Frerichs in 1861 (see No. 4693), now considered to be a disorder of copper and ceruloplasmin metabolism.

A classic monograph on the pathology of multiple sclerosis.

“Villaret’s syndrome”.

Creutzfeld-Jakob disease, spatic pseudoschlerosis, independently discovered by Jakob. (see No. 4722). English translation in No. 5019.14, pp. 97-112.
Creutzfeld described a single case and later reported that "his case did not bear any resemblance to the cases reported by Jakob," suggesting that Creutzfeldt probably did not describe the symptomatology associated with Creutzfeld-Jakob disease.

“Vogt syndrome”, disease of the corpora striata.

Foix and his colleagues showed that the specific lesion in Parkinson’s disease is in the substantia nigra of the mid-brain.

“Creutzfeld-Jakob disease”, spastic pseudosclerosis. Traditionally considered to have been independently discovered by Creutzfeld, but in the 21st century recognized as a discovery by Jakob alone. See also No. 4719.1.

Souques recognized the importance of encephalitis lethargica as a cause of Parkinsonism; more than any other neurologist he was responsible for unifying its diverse manifestations.

The (extrapyramidal) syndrome of Hallervorden and Spatz.

Clovis Vincent, a pioneer French neurosurgeon, contributed a valuable study of Hallervorden–Spatz disease.

Introduction of caramiphen (“parpanit”) in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

Introduction of “diparcol” in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. With D. Boyet and G. Dumont.

Introduction of ethopropazine (“lysivane”) in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

Clinical introduction of benzhexol (“artane”) in Parkinson’s disease.

First description of Kuru, a disease occurring in natives of New Guinea. Cause of the disease was unknown.

"It is now widely accepted that kuru was transmitted among members of the Fore tribe of Papua New Guinea via funerary cannibalism. Deceased family members were traditionally cooked and eaten, which was thought to help free the spirit of the dead.^[4] Women and children usually consumed the brain, the organ in which infectious prions were most concentrated, thus allowing for transmission of kuru. The disease was therefore more prevalent among women and children" (Wikipedia article on Kuru, accessed 12-2019).

Following Hadlow's suggestion (1959), Gadjusek was able to transmit Kuru and Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease to primates through cerebral inoculations. Similarity in the clinical course of the diseases and in the cellular pathology of brain material suggested similar causative agents.

Gajdusek shared the Nobel Prize with Baruch S. Blumberg in 1976 for his work on infectious diseases.

Chap. XIV is devoted to the sense of hearing; in it Willis described the “paracusis of Willis” (p. 73). English translation, 1683.

A probable description of myasthenia gravis is given in Pars. 2, Cap. IX.

In Pars 2, Cap. III is an account of lethargy, and Cap. XIII gives an account of “stupidity or foolishness”. Part 2, Cap. 1, deals with headache.

Two Oxford editions were published in 1672; the first, in quarto, in which a description of general paralysis appears on pp. 392-432, and the second, in octavo, in which it appears on pp. 278-307. In his Practice of Physick (1684) the translation of this section appears on pp. 161-78.

Probably the earliest description of myositis ossificans progressiva. Freke was a friend of Fielding, who mentioned him in Tom Jones.

“Aran–Duchenne disease”, progressive muscular atrophy, with which the name of Cruveilhier is also associated. A fuller account is included in Duchenne’s Électrisation localisée, 1861, 437-547.

“Aran–Duchenne disease” (see No. 4732)

“Cruveilhier’s palsy”, the progressive muscular atrophy already described by Duchenne and Aran. The slimness of the anterior roots was first noticed by Cruveilhier and was thought to be the essential lesion until Luys (No. 4737) reported degeneration of the anterior horn cells.

“Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy” (No. 4739) described.

Little was the first eminent orthopedic surgeon in the British Isles. He studied under Stromeyer and, in 1838, he founded the Orthopaedic Institution, now the (Royal) National Orthopaedic Hospital, London. The above work is an elaboration of lectures delivered in 1843.

Early description of progressive muscular dystrophy (p. 14).

First description of chronic progressive bulbar paralysis (“Duchenne’s paralysis”).

Luys was the first to note the degeneration of the anterior horn cells in progressive muscular atrophy.

Progressive muscular dystrophy with pseudo-hypertrophy. From the description given later by Duchenne (No. 4739) the condition has been named “Duchenne-Griesinger disease”.

“Duchenne muscular dystrophy”. English translation of first portion in Bick, Classics of orthopaedics, 72-75.

Description of the lesions of the spinal cord in muscular atrophy.

Münchmeyer described a form of progressive ossifying myositis (“Münchmeyer’s disease”).

Charcot differentiated between the ordinary (Aran–Duchenne) type of muscular atrophy and the rarer amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, (ALS), at one time called “Charcot’s disease,” but more frequently designated today as Lou Gehrig's disease.

First description of myotonia congenita occurs on p. 550.

Thomsen suffered from muscle weakness and cramps, an issue that all his sons inherited. Realizing that this was a hereditary disease, Thomsen managed to trace the disease for six generations, and found over 20 cases of it in his family. Thomsen was motivated to research this problem when his youngest son was accused of being a malingerer. with respect to military service. It took the authorities almost two months of medical examinations to confirm that the son really suffered from a disease. Thomsen first described the disease, myotonia congenita, in the above paper. The name Thomsen's disease was proposed in 1883 by Karl Friedrich Otto Westphal .

The case of “bulbar paralysis” (pp. 45-55) is believed to be the first definite record of myasthenia gravis.

Myasthenia gravis (“Erb-Goldflam disease”; see also No. 4757). A further paper on the subject by Erb appears in the above volume, pp. 325-50.

Progressive muscular dystrophy (“Erb’s muscular atrophy”). Erb did much to establish the modern conception of the muscular dystrophies.

First description of atrophic paralysis of the muscles of the hand following lesion of the brachial plexus and eighth cervical and first dorsal nerves (“Klumpke’s paralysis”).

First description of the peroneal form of muscular atrophy, the so-called Charcot–Marie–Tooth type.

Tooth described peroneal muscular atrophym a hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy of the peripheral nervous system, independently of, and in the same year as, Charcot and Marie. Known as Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease, it is the most commonly inherited neurological disorder affecting about one in 2,500 people.
Digital facsimile from U.S. National Library of Medicine at this link.

Gowers was physician and Professor of Clinical Medicine at University College, London. He especially distinguished himself in the field of neurology, and the above set is his greatest work.Page 365 of vol. 1 includes the first description of local panatrophy. See also Rev. Neurol. Psychiat. (Edinb.), 1903, 1, 3-4. Gowers was also interested in stenography, advised his students to take down his lectures in shorthand, and founded the Society of Medical Phonographers. See No. 4751. Biography by Macdonald Critchley, London, 1949.

“Landouzy–Dejerine type” of progressive muscular dystrophy.

Dana described a combination of myotonia and muscular atrophy.

First description of dystrophia myotonica (“Déléage’s disease”).

“Werdnig-Hoffmann muscular atrophy”, an infantile familial form of progressive muscular atrophy. Hoffmann independently described it (see No. 4756).

“Hoffmann’s muscular atrophy” – independently described by Werdnig (No. 4755).

Myasthenia pseudoparalytica (Erb–Goldflam symptom complex). See No. 4746.

Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.

Marie disbelieved in the Aran–Duchenne type of muscular progressive atrophy.

First description of “Oppenheim’s disease” – amyotonia congenita.

Weigert noted the connection of myasthenia gravis with hypertrophy of the thymus.

“Distal myopathy of Gowers”, a form of progressive muscular dystrophy.

In this classic monograph, 357 cases of torticollis are recorded.

Thymectomy for myasthenia gravis. Reported by C. H. Schumacher and – . Roth.

Harriet Edgeworth discovered by accident the beneficial effect of ephedrine in myasthenia gravis. Digital facsimile from jamanetwork.com at this link.

Introduction of glycine (glycocoll) in the treatment of myasthenia gravis.

Introduction of neostigmine in the treatment of myasthenia gravis.

Introduction of physostigmine in treatment of myasthenia gravis. She replaced this with neostigmine in 1935 (Proc. roy. Soc. Med., 28, 759-61).

Potassium salts first used in treatment of myasthenia gravis.

Guanidine first used in treatment of myasthenia gravis. With K. Dodd and S. S. Riven.

First deliberate treatment of myasthenia gravis by thymectomy, with M. F. Mason, H. J. Morgan, and S. S. Riven.

Becker-type muscular dystrophy.

First important account of tabes dorsalis.

Gives the views of his father, Ernst Horn (1744-1848), on tabes.

Although far from being the first to describe tabes dorsalis, Duchenne gave a classic account of the condition, earning the eponym “Duchenne’s disease”.

First clinical description of the electric pains in tabes.

Tabetic gastric crises first described. Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.

Charcot called attention to tabetic arthropathy, a condition which has since borne his name, while the tabetic joints he so well described are now known as “Charcot’s joints”.

Syphilitic endarteritis of cerebral arteries described.

An early description of the joint symptoms in tabes dorsalis.

Knee-jerk first used as diagnostic measure in tabes dorsalis.

Westphal discovered the diagnostic value of the knee-jerk simultaneously with Erb.

Fournier advanced the doctrine of the syphilitic origin of tabes, a hypothesis which was opposed for a time.

First description of subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord, which Leichtenstern termed progressive pernicious anemia in tabetics.

First description of peripheral neuritis, “Dejerine’s neurotabes”.

Dejerine ranks high in French neurology. He became clinical chief at the Salpêtrière. He separated peripheral from medullary tabes, wrote on the tabetic muscular atrophies, on the parietal lobe syndrome, and made many other contributions to neurological literature.

Frenkel devised certain muscular exercises for use in the treatment of tabes dorsalis.

Erb’s classic description of syphilitic spinal paralysis, sometimes called “Erb’s disease”.

English translation, 1900.

“Pel’s crises” – the ocular crises in tabes.

Chap. XIV is devoted to the sense of hearing; in it Willis described the “paracusis of Willis” (p. 73). English translation, 1683.

A probable description of myasthenia gravis is given in Pars. 2, Cap. IX.

In Pars 2, Cap. III is an account of lethargy, and Cap. XIII gives an account of “stupidity or foolishness”. Part 2, Cap. 1, deals with headache.

Two Oxford editions were published in 1672; the first, in quarto, in which a description of general paralysis appears on pp. 392-432, and the second, in octavo, in which it appears on pp. 278-307. In his Practice of Physick (1684) the translation of this section appears on pp. 161-78.

Haslam was among the first to describe general paralysis; he recorded three cases (pp. 64, 67, 92, 120).

First description of  general paresis, or paralytic dementia, general paralysis of the insane, or "maladie de Bayle". This is considered the first demonstation of an organic cause for a "psychiatric" disorder; it was influential in drawing the attention of psychiatrists to other disorders of the nervous system as possible causes of other "mental" disorders. Commercial issue: Paris, Didot le Jeune, 1822. Partial English translation in Arch. Neurol. Psychiat. (Chicago), 1934, 32, 808-829. Digital facsimile from the University of Calgary at this link.

Delaye, a pupil of Esquirol, selected for his thesis the subject of “incomplete general paralysis of the insane”, which he differentiated from other forms of paralysis. He recorded the early signs of the disease, emphasizing the speech disturbance. Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.

Classic description of general paralysis. Calmeil’s work complements Bayle’s earlier delineation of general paralysis (No. 4795). Between the two of them they established the clinical picture of general paralysis of the insane, associating it with chronic inflammation of the brain. This was the first breakthrough in neuro-psychiatric research, and it gave psychiatry the spur to precise and systematic clinical, pathological, and statistical innovation on its own terms.

Esquirol succeeded Pinel at the Salpêtrière, and was the first lecturer on psychiatry. After Pinel he was a founder of the French School. This is the first modern textbook on psychiatry. It is notable for its striking illustrations of the insane. Vol. 2, p. 264 contains a classic description of paresis. Esquirol regarded general paralysis as a complication of various forms of mental disorder. English translation, without the illustrations, Philadelphia, 1845.

Clouston, eminent English psychiatrist, was the first definitely to recognize the relationship between paresis and congenital syphilis and to report a case. This paper is also of interest as being the only recorded case of juvenile paresis at the time Ibsen wrote Ghosts, with its excellent portrayal of the condition in the person of Oswald Alving.