John Goodsir, conservator and professor of anatomy at the University of Edinburgh, suffered an unidentified illness described by experts after his death as tabes. The features that led to this diagnosis, the understanding of tabes at that time and its relationship in some cases to syphilis, are discussed. It is concluded that the most likely diagnoses are subacute combined degeneration of the cord as a result of malnutrition or tabes dorsalis resulting from earlier syphilis. The presence of ‘lightning pains’ leans towards the latter diagnosis but evidence for a means of acquisition of syphilis is lacking. The disadvantages of retrospective diagnosis are discussed.

John Goodsir 是爱丁堡大学的文物保护员和解剖学教授，他死后患上了一种不明疾病，专家将其描述为 tabes。讨论了导致该诊断的特征、当时对 tabes 的理解以及它在某些情况下与梅毒的关系。得出的结论是，最可能的诊断是由于营养不良导致的脊髓亚急性联合变性或早期梅毒引起的脊髓损伤。“闪电般的疼痛”的存在倾向于后一种诊断，但缺乏获得梅毒手段的证据。讨论了回顾性诊断的缺点。