Tumors of the cerebellum / by Charles K. Mills [and others].

Date:
1905
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Tumors of the cerebellum / by Charles K. Mills [and others]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    are strengthened. Removal of the organ causes muscular weakness, which was described by Luciani as due to three factors: Asthenia (weaken- ing of muscular energy), atonia (lessening of mus- cular tone), and astasia (uncertain and unsteady movements). That asthenia is present is shown by the fact that animals with unilateral ablation swim toward the crossed side, but walk toward the same side. Astasia is represented by the intention tremor which develops at varying lengths of time after removal of either part or whole of the cerebellum. Atonia can be readily detected by the feebleness of the muscles which becomes manifest after the disappear- ance of the primary spasm. Many physiologists have defended the theory of Lussana (14) that the centre for muscle sense is located in the cerebellum. The vertigo frequently present suggests a sensory function. But human beings with atrophy of the cerebellum still possessed a normal amount of muscle sense. Luciani’s care- ful work has gone far to disprove the existence of such a centre in the cerebellum. The the- ories advanced to explain the normal func- tions seem too inadequate to account for all the phenomena. It appears conclusive that the cere- bellar cells are continually exerting an influence upon other nerve centres, but with reference to the