EFFECTS ON THE SPINAL CORD 1 99 



and water deficiency. A slight relative atrophy of the brain and spinal cord of 

 albino rats on a lipoid-free ration was observed by Hatai ('15), as mentioned in 

 Chapter X. 



Protein Deficiency.— Hatai (07) found that in albino rats 1 month old, 

 subjected to a starch-fat diet for 3 weeks (with marked loss in body weight) 

 and then amply refed on mixed diet, the spinal cord and brain, as well as the 

 body, recovered normal weight, though certain differences in chemical composi- 

 tion appear. Koch and Voegtlin ('16) observed marked loss in weight of the 

 spinal cord and brain, as well as of the body, in monkeys and rats on protein- 

 poor diets of corn-oil cake, corn meal, sweet potatoes, etc. (mixed deficiency). 

 In these monkeys, Sundwall ('17) found meningeal congestion, degeneration of 

 Burdach's column in the cervical region and of Goll's column in the dorsal region, 

 with swelling and chromatolysis of the cells in the anterior horn and spinal ganglia. 



Pellagra. — Although degenerative lesions of the spinal cord in pellagrins 

 were noted by Lombroso ('69), the first detailed account was given by Tonnini 

 ('83, '84). In 51 cases, he found the meninges anemic in 8; opaque and thick- 

 ened in about half; calcareous infiltration of the arachnoid in 27. These changes 

 appear rare in the cervical region. The cord is usually asymmetrical and ane- 

 mic ; hyperemia and softening were found in 20 cases. In 13 cases studied micro- 

 scopically, great pigmentation of the anterior and the posterior horn cells 

 appears in 8; and granulo-pigmentary degeneration is frequent. Cell atrophy 

 was noted once in the cervico-dorsal, and twice in the lumbar region. Degenera- 

 tion was found twice in the lateral column and once in the posterior. Bel- 

 mondo ('89) examined 8 cases and likewise found in severe pellagra a sclerosis 

 of the posterior and lateral columns, involving the crossed pyramidal tracts, 

 together with changes in the pia and gray substance (chiefly pigmentary 

 atrophy). Corpora amylacea occur and the central canal may be closed by 

 ependymal proliferation. Similar changes were found in 8 cases by Tuczek 

 ('93) in the posterior and crossed pyramidal tracts, with variable atrophy of the 

 nerve fibers and glial fibrosis. The intensity of the lesions, which are sym- 

 metrical, decreases from below upward. The central canal is obliterated, but 

 the meninges, nerve roots and gray substance appear normal. 



Marie ('94) concluded that the lesions in the spinal cord are due to a polio- 

 myelitis posterior, with associated degeneration of the endogenous fibers of the 

 posterior and lateral columns. 



Using the Nissl method, Rossi ('98) found a variable degree of chromatolysis 

 in the spinal cord of pellagrins, affecting either the periphery or the entire nerve 

 cell. The cells show variable deformity, sometimes pigmented, sometimes homo- 

 geneous or vitreous in appearance. The nuclei may be peripheral or disappear. 

 The dendrites may be greatly altered or absent; and the entire cell may disinte- 

 grate. Rossi's results were confirmed and extended by Babes and Sion ('00), 

 who concluded that the changes in the white substance are chieflv or entirely 

 exogenous in origin, opposing the endogenous theory of Tuczek and Marie. The 

 degenerative changes were traced from the dorsal roots into the cord, with result- 

 ant changes resembling tabes. Changes also occur in the cells of the gray 

 substance, especially in Clarke's column and the anterior horn, with a peculiar 



