Systematic histological examination of the central nervous system of a case of transverse lesion of the spinal cord in the lower cervical region / by Sidney V. Sewell and H. Hume Turnbull.

Sewell, Sidney V.

Date:: [1910]

Credit: Systematic histological examination of the central nervous system of a case of transverse lesion of the spinal cord in the lower cervical region / by Sidney V. Sewell and H. Hume Turnbull. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.

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$neuraxon has already given off a large number of collaterals above the place of injury, then the changes in the cell will be only transitory and the cell will in all probability completely recover. This would explain the fact that the cells of Clarke’s column presented fairly uniform changes, while the cells of the cortex and of Deiters’ nuclei presented a varying amount of change, as the degeneration would depend inversely on the number of collaterals given off from the axons of the cells above the seat of injury. On the other hand, there was a very slight amount of movement in the thigh and some movement in the arms after the accident, so that it is probable that at least some of the fibres of the pyramidal tracts escaped injury. Our observations are in entire agreement with the results obtained by Gordon Holmes and Page May [2], in that the only cells of the cortex w7e found affected were the large Betz cells of the ascending frontal convolutions, and the large pyramidal cells were everywhere perfectly normal. In conclusion, w7e wish to thank Dr. Mott for his kindness in giving us the material and for his help in the work. REFERENCES. [1] Fraser. Journ. of Physiol., Lond., 1901-2, xxvii, p. 372. [2] Gordon Holmes and Page May. Proc. Roy. Soc. Med., 1909, ii (Neurol. Sect., p. 92) and Brain, Loud., 1909, xxxii, p. 1. [3] Horsley and Clarke. Brain, 1905, xxviii, p. 13. [4] Mott. Brain, 1895, xviii, p. 16. John Bale. Sons & Danielsson, Ltd., S3-91, Great Titclilield Street, London, \Y.$