Clinical observations in acute neurology: A historical explanation of the present

AbstractBackgroundThe history of the development of acute neurologic disease as a biologic mechanism is of interest. Equally important is how it translated to the bedside and how the clinical examination differentiated itself.MethodsThis paper reviews primary sources pertaining to acute neurologic conditions described mostly in the 19th and 20th century. A review of monographs, treatises, textbooks, and peer‐reviewed articles was conducted.ResultsThe evolution of clinical signs and syndromes associated with dynamic intracranial pathologies was predicated on the idea that animal studies informed clinicians, who then linked clinical signs to these observations. A dominant theme is that innovative technologies could trace acute processes through all their various stages, affording a complete picture of the disease process. Just as clinical descriptors of central nervous system processes evolved, the presentation of acute neuromuscular respiratory failure became better defined. Once practices incorporated these acute clinical signs, textbooks cemented their “gold standard” status with relative impunity.ConclusionsThe practise of acute neurology and neurocritical care must find out what