Apoplexy in Richard Bright's (1789-1858) reports of medical cases

This study examines Bright's cases in the section on pressure in Volume II of his Reports of Medical Cases of intracranial hemorrhages, cerebral congestion, and the "effusion of serum," which Bright regarded as causes of apoplexy. He arranged the cases of intracranial hemorrhages in such a way that it became possible to recognize the differences in the symptomatology of what is currently known as subarachnoid, subdural, and extradural bleeding and of intracerebral hemorrhages. The value of these reports rests mainly on the accurate documentation of the symptomatology of his cases and detailed autopsy reports, some accompanied by intricate illustrations. Bright's contributions to the notion of cerebral localizations and accounts of neurological conditions that were new or not well known at the time enhance the merit of this part of his Reports.