4/19/44 Mother's letter: "My son's reading comes before you
on May 1st... These are days filled with expectancy and with
a sincere conviction that at long last from Spirit, through
you Light for my son will come. On that day I will be with
him at ..., California, where the State Hospital is located.
We will be in the Reception Room of the Male Infirmary. A
brief review of his case along with leading questions, as
you requested, is as follows:
From birth until 2 years 6 months of age, my son was normal
in every way. At that time, after a siege of pneumonia,
then empyema, and during an aspiration for his condition,
he apparently went into a state of shock. The accompanying
record can give you the technical details. When he came home
from the hospital after 10 days of no response of any kind to
medical diagnosis, he had forgotten everything. He was like
a new born child again. He slowly began to learn how to
walk. After three years he began to talk. As far as we
know, he is blind. Two years ago, it seemed best to place
him in the State Hospital. When he was about 10 months old,
through an accident, he was thrown from his buggy. When he
was about 2 years old, he fell from the running board of our
car, landing on his forehead. These are the only 2 falls
which I recall. As his case is diagnosed, we should know
whether brain tissue has been scarred. (1) Is there pressure
anywhere through his falls, or from any other cause? (2) Is
there nerve disorder? (3) Where? (4) Why is he so thin? Is
there digestive disorder? (5) How will healing come? (6)
Whom shall I consult to aid: an osteopath, a chiropractor,
or one who specializes in electronics? We will cooperate to
the utmost in trying to carry out your suggestions in this
case."
[Copy of accompanying record:]
"Memorial Hospital for Children of the University of ...
Medical School, ..., Ore. Dr. Warren G. Allen, M.D., Re.
[
5038] age 2, entered ... Hospital on
1/07/36 with complaint
of empyema. The child had been in good health until a week
before
11/10/35, at which time he developed a lobar pneumonia
on the right side. At the same time, he developed an empyema
which was aspirated 8 times, the last time 3 days previous
to admission. Following the aspirations, he always improved
and was getting along fairly well. The history and physical
examination otherwise was negative.
On January 10, an x-ray showed fluid on the right lung
cavity. He was somewhat anemic and a transfusion was given
on January 8. On January 10, an aspiration was done in which
109 cc. of fluid were removed. Following this, the child
was much improved. He was aspirated again on January 15. On
Jan. 17, a thoracentesis was attempted, at which time about
5 cc. of blood escaped. At this time, the patient went into
a shock. The respirations were very poor, the skin was cold
and clammy, and the patient was immediately taken back to
bed. His condition remained critical during the next 2 days.
He vomited frequently and occasionally it was blood-stained.
He was somewhat cyanotic during the first 24 hours,
and after 36 hours it was necessary to resort to nasal
oxygen. Sedatives were necessary to control twitchings and
convulsions. His condition remained about the same until the
20th, and from then on his critical condition improved, but
the child was never normal.
Examination on January 25 by Dr. Merl Margasen, M. D.,
neurologist: Patient lying quietly in bed. Turns head from
side to side. Tongue protrudes in the midline. Head: No
irregularity, no change in percussion note. Eyes: Lid slits
equal. Lashes long - pupils 5 mm. regular and equal. Pupils
respond to light, but only when shone directly into the eye -
from side, no response. May be some better from left. When
eye is approached, lids do not blink. Cones usual light
response good. Eyes movement seems O.K. No systagmus seen.
Corneal reflexes good. Fundi: Veins dilated and tortuous
Discs are elevated, some move on the left. Temporal margins
can be seen on each side. Face: No asymmetry. Arms:
relaxed. Deep reflexes good and equal. Abdominal reflexes
obtained O.K. Cremasteris reflexes obtained O.K. Legs:
Hypertonic KK and AR - O.K. and equal. No Clonus, No
babinsky. Kernig suggestive. Neck: rigid, can raise thorax
with hand under head. Hearing: no response. Mastoids don't
seem to be tender.
SUMMARY: History acute pulmonary infection followed by a
sudden onset of cerebral symptoms. Blindness. Stiff neck.
Evidence pressure in head, etc. All suggest to me an
infected embolus from the lung to the brain, probably with
abscess formation and secondary local meningitis, Where?
I don't know, but advise: 1. Stero lat. of skull; 2.
Spinal puncture with pressure reading; 3. Opthamaloscopic
examination. Signed ... Morris Bridgemand, M.D.
X-ray findings
1/27/36 Skull: There is a slight increase
in digital markings throughout the skull. This would be
indicative of a moderate increased intracranial pressure;
this sella is not enlarged. The outline is smooth. No
evidence of atrophy. The clinoid processes are distinct.
The skull tables appear to be normal as to thickness.
1/29/36 Marked pleural thickening over the entire right lung
field. There is probably some fluid present here. There is
no serated lung tissue seen in the right chest. Left lung
field is quite clear. There is only a very slight shift
of the mediastinum toward the left side. Temperature:
Following the aspiration on the 17th, the temperature jumped
to 102 deg. and his pulse was 170. The pulse remained around
160 to 170. The pulse remained around 160 to 170 during
the next 2 days, and the temperature fluctuated between 105
degrees to 101. The pulse and temperature gradually came
down to approximately normal along the 24th of January and
from then on was perfectly normal.
The spinal fluid on Jan. 27, 1936 showed appearance clear,
cell count 2 culture negative.
Blood Count: 1-
17-36 1-
17-36
Hemoglobin 59.4 98.9
grams 8.20 13.65
R B C 3.09 5.33
W B C 14,500 11,800
Poly neut 64 43
Polu eos. 2
S L 12 25
Monocytes 5 3
St Cells 18 25
Reg 1
Metamyelocyte 1
Myelocyte 1
Anisocytosis 1 plus
Poikolocytosis 1 plus
We have always been interested in [
5038] and are at a loss
to understand definitely what occurred at the time of the
aspiration. There was no variation in the technique that we
have used for years here. Peculiarly, the condition which we
attempted to clear up, namely the empyema, responded to the
aspiration. I should be delighted to know the explanation of
this serious complication. (Signed) [...] M.D.
Report: [
5038] contracted pneumonia and while in the
hospital at ..., Oregon, developed some intra-cranial
disturbance, which has left him with apparently little if any
vision, and has retarded his mental development. The very
best men of Oregon worked diligently on the solution of the
case, and find they are hopelessly puzzled... The doctors of
Oregon who were working on the case wrote a complete finding
of the case and records were transferred to Dr. Warren G.
Allen, M.D., of ..., Calif. In the report sent to Dr. Allen
a request was made for a report of the solution if found, as
they are as interested as they were puzzled.
A complete and detailed chest survey was made by Dr. Frank
Eaton, M.D., who has expressed his willingness and readiness
to make a report of his findings. We also would like a
report on the case if progress is made. The case was then
referred to Dr. R. J. Nutting, M.D. and his associate Dr.
Duval, M.D. relative to the eyes of the child. After a
careful examination, each had an irrevocable different
opinion. The case next was admitted to ... County Hospital,
and an encephalogram was made. The results of this period of
observation bring more and more widely differences of opinion
among the physicians on the staff. They are frankly puzzled
and the hospital offers to make a complete summary of their
findings should this case be referred elsewhere. A complete
history on the child is available from ... Hospital, Dr.
Robert Aird, M.D. in charge of the case. A letter regarding
his birth was forwarded by Dr. J. F. Runner, M. D. in Calif.
[
5038]'s birth was normal, and his development was normal."
REPORTS
5/04/50 Mother's letter: "The reading of May 1, 1944 laid the
fact of my son's blindness to a fall received while he was
10 or 11 months old. An operation was discouraged through
Dr. Cayce's reading. In 1942 (April), we allowed him to be
committed to an institution here in California. Since my son
does not live at home and I may see him only once a month,
the Cocoa Butter treatment was not administered. Certainly,
mental and spiritual thoughts have gone out to him
constantly, all these years. Even so, my son is still
helpless. In all truth, I must admit that no evident
improvement has come. This fact, I think, goes under the
karmic explanation. Not long ago, while I was deep in
thought, the presence of Edgar Cayce was with me. He seemed
so knowing of my need, but only smiled a benediction. I
realize this has no bearing on a microfilmed report, but
it is interesting.
"Physicians' diagnosis of my son's condition was
'encephalitis'."
10/16/52 No record of verbal or written contact on this case
since
5/04/50.
Edgar Cayce Readings © 1971, 1993, 1994, 1995 by the Edgar Cayce Foundation