The treatment of tabetic ataxia by means of systematic exercise / by H.S. Frenkel.

  • Heinrich Frenkel
Date:
1917
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The treatment of tabetic ataxia by means of systematic exercise / by H.S. Frenkel. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    21/236 page 1
    F-GENERAT PART, THE VARIOUS TYPES OF TABETIC ATAXIA. IN Tabes Corsalis several types of motor disturbance may be distinguished each of which has its own peculiarities and characteristics although belonging to the general group of dis- orders of coordination. The curious fact that up till fairly recently very little attention was paid to the peculiarities which distinguish the manifold types of locomotor ataxia is well explained by the existence of an almost universal belief that all symptoms of tabetic ataxia are sufficiently explained by the supposition of pathological changes in the central nervous — apparatus. The symptom which chiefly distinguishes tabetic incoor- dination from all other anomalies of voluntary movements is the integrity of the entire complex of motor neurones, for the cortical ganglion cell, its communication with the ganglion cell of the anterior horn, the ganglion cell of the anterior horn itself, its connection with the muscle, and the muscle itself, exhibit no morbid changes. Physiologically this integrity of the entire complex of motor neurones finds its expression in the preserva- tion of the muscular power. As regards locomotion, the following classification may be made: I. The patient is able to walk about freely without support, with or without the help of a stick, but his mode of walking is altered. II. The patient has to lean upon the arm of a companion with or without the support of a stick ; walking alone is impossible. III, Walking is no longer possible, but the patient can still stand. IV. Walking and standing are impossible. Moreover, at the beginning and at the end of this series should be mentioned on the one hand the so-called pre-ataxic stage, and on the other the paralytic stage.
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3