Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-lj6df Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-13T01:49:53.802Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Bell's palsy before Bell: Evert Jan Thomassen à Thuessink and idiopathic peripheral facial paralysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 July 2009

R C van de Graaf ,
F F A IJpma ,
J-P A Nicolai  and
P M N Werker
R C van de Graaf*
Affiliation:
Department of Plastic Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands
F F A IJpma
Affiliation:
Department of Surgery, Isala Clinic, Zwolle, The Netherlands
J-P A Nicolai
Affiliation:
Department of Plastic Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands
P M N Werker
Affiliation:
Department of Plastic Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands
*
Address for correspondence: Dr R C van de Graaf, Department of Plastic Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands. E-mail: robertcvandegraaf@histplastsurg.com
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Bell's palsy is the eponym for idiopathic peripheral facial paralysis. It is named after Sir Charles Bell (1774–1842), who, in the first half of the nineteenth century, discovered the function of the facial nerve and attracted the attention of the medical world to facial paralysis. Our knowledge of this condition before Bell's landmark publications is very limited and is based on just a few documents. In 1804 and 1805, Evert Jan Thomassen à Thuessink (1762–1832) published what appears to be the first known extensive study on idiopathic peripheral facial paralysis. His description of this condition was quite accurate. He located several other early descriptions and concluded from this literature that, previously, the condition had usually been confused with other afflictions (such as ‘spasmus cynicus’, central facial paralysis and trigeminal neuralgia). According to Thomassen à Thuessink, idiopathic peripheral facial paralysis and trigeminal neuralgia were related, being different expressions of the same condition. Thomassen à Thuessink believed that idiopathic peripheral facial paralysis was caused by ‘rheumatism’ or exposure to cold. Many aetiological theories have since been proposed. Despite this, the cold hypothesis persists even today.

Keywords

Bell's PalsyFacial ParalysisFacial NerveHistory
Type
Review Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 123 , Issue 11 , November 2009 , pp. 1193 - 1198
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

Presented at the Working Meetings of the International Society of the History of Otorhinolaryngology in Barcelona, Spain, 22 October 2007, and in Berlin, Germany, 23 August 2008.

References

1Koehler, PJ, Bruyn, GW, Pearce, JMS. Neurological Eponyms. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000;187–93CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2Van de Graaf, RC. The early history of the facial nerve, facial muscles and facial paralysis. In: Beurskens, CHG, van Gelder, RS, Heymans, PG, Manni, JJ, Nicolai, JPA, eds. The Facial Palsies, Complementary Approaches. Utrecht: Lemma, 2005;135–47Google Scholar
3Van de Graaf, RC, Nicolai, JPA. Bell's palsy before Bell: Cornelis Stalpart van der Wiel's observation of Bell's palsy in 1683. Otol Neurotol 2005;26:1235–8CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4Pearce, JMS. Bell's or Friedreich's palsy. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1999;67:732CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5Wilkins, RH, Brody, IA. Bell's palsy and Bell's phenomenon. Arch Neurol 1969;21:661–9CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6Zulch, KJ. Idiopathic facial paralysis. In: Vinken, PJ, Bruyn, GW. Handbook of Clinical Neurology, Disease of the Nerves Part II. New York: North-Holland, 1970;241–302Google Scholar
7May, M, Schaitkin, BM. The Facial Nerve. New York: Thieme, 2000Google Scholar
8Bell, C. On the nerves; giving an account of some experiments on their structure and functions, which lead to a new arrangement of the system. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 1821;111:398–424Google Scholar
9Bell, C. Appendix to the Papers on the Nerves, Republished from the Royal Society's Transactions. London: Longman, 1827Google Scholar
10Bell, C. Clinical lecture on partial paralysis of the face. London Med Gaz 1827;1:747–50, 769–70Google Scholar
11Bell, C. On the nerves of the face; being a second paper on that subject. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 1829;119:317–30Google Scholar
12Bell, C. The Nervous System of the Human Body. London: Henry Renshaw, 1844Google Scholar
13Shaw, J. On partial paralysis. Medico-Chirurgical Transactions 1823;12:105–51CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14Mettler, CC. History of Medicine. Philadelphia, Toronto: Blakiston, 1947Google Scholar
15Romberg, MH. A Manual of the Nervous System of Man. London: Sydenham Society, 1853Google Scholar
16Dieffenbach, JF. Ueber halbseitige Gesichtslähmung und Durchschneidung der Muskeln der Gesunden Geischtshälfte dabei [About Cutting the Muscles of the Healthy Side of the Face in Cases of Unilateral Facial Paralysis.] Med Zeit 1841;37:179–81Google Scholar
17Sanders, R. On facial hemiplegia and paralysis of the facial nerve. Lancet 1865;86:452–4CrossRefGoogle Scholar
18Wilde, WR. Practical Observations on Aural Surgery and the Nature and Treatment of Diseases of the Ear. London: John Churchill, 1853CrossRefGoogle Scholar
19Hutchinson, J, Hughlings Jackson, J. Cases of paralysis of the portio dura. Medical Times Gazette 1861;1:606–8Google Scholar
20Douglas, J. August 18th, 1704. Blackburn 18.4. (xx). Blackburn Cabinet, Hunterian Library, Glasgow. In: Thomas, KB. Facial palsy before Bell. Middlesex Hosp J 1963;63:254–6Google Scholar
21Bird, TD. Nicolaus, A. Friedreich's description of peripheral facial nerve paralysis in 1798. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1979;42:56–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
22Stalpart van der Wiel, C. Eerste deel, van het tweede hondert-getal der seldsame Aanmerkingen, soo in de Genees- als Heel- en Snykonst, meest by eygen ondervinding van tijt tot tijt, vergadert, en opgestelt [First part of the second hundred rare observations in medicine, surgery and anatomy, mainly collected and reported by myself]. Gravenhage: Daniel Geselle, 1686Google Scholar
23Friedreich, NA. De Paralysi Musculorum Faciei Rheumatica [On rheumatic paralysis of the facial muscles]. Würzburg: Rienner, 1797Google Scholar
24Index Catalogue of The Library of the Surgeon-General's Office, United States Army. Authors and Subjects. Washington: Government Printing Office 1889;10:448–50Google Scholar
25Schuurman, JB. Twee gevallen van paralysis rheumatica musculorum faciei. In: Thomassen à Thuessink, EJ. Opuscula [two cases of rheumatic paralysis of the facial muscles]. Groningen: 1804Google Scholar
26Thomassen à Thuessink, EJ. Verhandeling over de paralysis rheumatica musculorum faciei [Report on rheumatic paralysis of the facial muscles]. Het Medisch Magazijn Leijden 1804;3:91–9Google Scholar
27Forsten Verschuir, WH. De Paralysi Musculorum Faciei, sic dicta Rheumatica [On Rheumatic Paralysis of the Facial Muscles]. Groningen: Abraham Groenewolt, 1804 (English translation, Dijkers, H, van de Graaf, RC)Google Scholar
28Thomassen à Thuessink, EJ. Paralysis musculorum faciei rheumatica, en prosopalgia (verlamming der aangezichtsspieren en gezichtspijn) [rheumatic facial paralysis and facial pain]. Groningen: Waarnemingen, 1805Google Scholar
29Terwisscha van Scheltinga, G. Historie van Academisch Ziekenhuis en Medische Faculteit te Groningen in de professoren buurt [History of University Hospital and Medical School in Groningen in the professors neighbourhood]. Groningen: Stichting ‘200 jaar AZG’, 2004Google Scholar
30Tammeling, BP. 175 Jaar AZG. Groningen: Letsch, 1978Google Scholar
31Friedreich, NA. Ueber die rheumatische Lähmung der Gesichtsmuskeln [On rheumatic paralysis of the facial muscles]. Journal der Erfindungen, Theorien und Widersprüche in der Natur- und Arzneiwissenschaft 1798;7:83095Google Scholar
32Peitersen, E. Bell's palsy: the spontaneous course of 2,500 peripheral facial nerve palsies of different etiologies. Acta Otolaryngol 2002;(suppl 549):4–30CrossRefGoogle Scholar
33Callisen, ACP. Medicinisches Schriftsteller-Lexicon, Copenhagen, 1834:20:108Google Scholar
34Anonymous Reviewer. Appendix to the Papers on the Nerves, republished from the Philosophical Transactions. By Charles Bell; containing Consultations and Cases Illustrative of the Facts announced in those papers. 8vo, pp.140, with a Plate of the Respiratory Nerves. Longman and Co.1827. Medico-Chirurgical Review and Journal of Practical Medicine 1827;1:412–23Google Scholar
35Davis, DD. On acute rheumatism. Lancet 1841;i:572–9CrossRefGoogle Scholar
36Harvey, W. Rheumatism, Gout and Neuralgia, as Affecting the Head and Ear with Remarks on Some Forms of Headaches, in Connexion with Deafness. London: Henry Renshaw, 1852;2–3Google Scholar
37English, PC. Emergence of rheumatic fever in the nineteenth century. The Milbank Quarterly 1989;67(suppl 1):33–49CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
38Meininger, JV, Verkroost, CM. Catarrh, catarrhal fever and catarrhal disease. Ned Tijdschr Geneesk [in Dutch] 1972;116:23–30Google Scholar
39Beyerman, DH. Een geval van periphere facialis-paralyse (a frigore) [A Case of peripheral facial paralysis (a frigore)]. Ned Tijdschr Geneesk 1903;47:333–42Google Scholar
40Finsterer, J. Management of peripheral facial nerve palsy. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2008;265:743–52CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
41Rath, B, Linder, T, Cornblath, D, van de Graaf, RC, Ijpma, FFA, Nicolai, AJ-P, Werker, PMN. “All that palsies is not Bell's [1]” – the need to define Bell's palsy as an adverse event following immunization. Vaccine 2007;26:1–14CrossRefGoogle Scholar
42Dieffenbach, KM. Facial paralysis in the early Nineteenth Century. Plast Reconstr Surg 2008;122:995–6CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed