Diving Bells and Suits 407 



patient; finally, after twenty-one days, the patient could urinate with- 

 out assistance. We should note that after the eighth catheterism a 

 very severe attack of intermittent fever came on, for which we gave 

 quinine, and which did not recur. 



The paralysis of the limbs yielded also to stimulating frictions, 

 and on the fortieth day the patient could walk with crutches. We gave 

 him extract of nux vomica, pains appeared along the limbs, but no 

 improvement resulted. Not knowing the nature of the illness, we 

 gave a symptomatic treatment; we gave iodide of potassium intern- 

 ally. 



October 24. The lower limbs were still weak, especially on the 

 left, where we noted at the same time, in the leg and the foot, lack 

 of sensitivity to pain and touch, and a moderate sensation of cold. 

 On the right, where at the beginning there was complete paralysis of 

 sensation and movement, the insensibility persisted only on the outer 

 part of the back of the foot. The active movements were carried out 

 well, except a weakness on the left at the tibio-tarsal articulation, 

 especially in flexion. The passive movements were natural. 



Examination by electricity (induction apparatus) found at the 

 right the electrical contractility lessened in the muscles which depend 

 upon the peroneal nerve. On the left, not only these, but also the 

 tibial muscles showed lessened electrical contractility. The other 

 muscles reacted well, like those of the belly. 



We continued to faradize the skin and the muscles of the limbs 

 and the belly. There was an improvement. For two hours after the 

 faradization the patient felt that his movements were free, as if he 

 were quite well. 



November 28. Lack of sensitivity to pain, touch and cold on the 

 left halfway along the thigh, even half of the penis, on the right only 

 lack of sensitivity to pain and touch on the foot; weakness of the 

 limbs, however, extension of the foot on the right was very incom- 

 plete. If the patient closed his eyes, he tottered and began to fall. 

 Lack of coordination or irregularity of movements during walking, 

 involuntary, convulsive contractions, through reflex action of the 

 lower limbs, for example, from the bite of a flea on the buttocks or 

 the loins. Sometimes retention of the urine, at other times, incontin- 

 ence. We applied two cauteries on the spinal column, and gave him 

 internally iodide of potassium. 



December 10. Improvement, he wants to go away. 



After my publications on this subject, in 1871, in the month of 

 September, Dr. Cotsonopoulos, of Nauplia in Morea, published an 

 observation, followed by an autopsy in the Greek Journal Asclepios 

 (Esculapius), in which my observations are also published. I will 

 make a translation of it for you. 



D. N, aged 30, a sailor in good health, strong, who had been 

 working for a year with the English diving suit, was taken to the 

 hospital of Nauplia on May 2. Six days before he had been working 

 on the shore of the Argolic gulf, at a depth of 30 meters on a muddy 

 bottom. When he was drawn up, he felt a pain in the loins and great 

 numbness in the lower limbs, movement of which after an hour was 

 wholly impossible. His companions rubbed him and cauterized his penis. 



