In Kinnier Wilson’s textbook,1 he writes about the disease that bears his name: “My monograph of 1912 described a disease unknown to the medical profession at that time”. While summarising the essential features he emphasises the familial but not congenital nature of the illness, which lasted a few months in acute cases, many years in chronic cases.

Wilson’s paper,2 the basis of his MD thesis, “ . . . contained references to six old and previously obscure cases (none later than 1890), and recorded four of my own in three of which autopsy revealed typical lenticular lesions as well as cirrhosis of the liver.”

Wilson acknowledged his indebtedness to Gowers who he said described, “the first two recorded cases of the disease . . ..” Gowers, in 1888,3 had reported:

“A ten year old boy with a brother and three other relations having suffered maladies resembling chorea. The boy suffered from tonic spasm which was continuous . . . affecting the face producing a constant peculiar smile. The tongue was pressed back against the palate in such a manner …