In those who
survive the effects of the venom it lasts for an indefinite
period. One man seen by Russ had not only lost his speech in
consequence of the bite of a fer-de-lance snake, but had become,
and still remained, hemiplegic. In the rest of Russ's cases
speech alone was abolished. Russ remarks that the intelligence
was altogether intact, and sensibility and power of motion were
unaffected. One woman who had been thus condemned to silence,
suddenly under the influence of a strong excitement recovered her
speech, but when the emotion passed away speech again left her.
Ogle accounts for this peculiar manifestation of aphasia by
supposing that the poison produces spasm of the middle cerebral
arteries, and when the symptom remains a permanent defect the
continuance of the aphasia is probably due to thrombosis of
arteries above the temporary constriction.
Anosmia, or loss of smell, is the most common disorder of
olfaction; it may be caused by cortical lesions, olfactory
nerve-changes, congenital absence, or over-stimulation of the
nerves, or it may be a symptom of hysteria.
Ogle, after mentioning several cases of traumatic anosmia,
suggests that a blow on the occiput is generally the cause.
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