History of multiple sclerosis. An Australian perspective

In 1868 Jean-Martin Charcot's clinicopathological correlation of multiple sclerosis (MS) was published. Review of Australian medical journals revealed that, 7 years later, Dr Alfred K. Newman, a young physician returning from Aberdeen University, made first mention of MS in the Australian literature when he gave a dissertation entitled 'On insular sclerosis of the brain and spinal cord' which was based on Charcot's teachings. In 1886 Dr Jamieson presented the first case in Australia which fulfilled the criteria for clinically definite MS. This was followed by several other interesting case presentations of MS but it was not until 1915 that Drs Froude Flashman and Oliver Latham presented the first Australian clinicopathological correlation of this disease. Case presentations and extensive discussions regarding the cause of MS appeared in Australian medical journals over the ensuing years but no original Australian research was presented until 1933 when Dr Royle's work on division of the thoracic sympathetic trunk was published. Since that time Australians have made an ever-increasing contribution to the world literature regarding MS pathogenesis, epidemiology and treatment.