632 



4. If one reproduces of a patient, suffering from a vestibular inHec- 

 tion, a gait-path, then distinct deviations will be visible (fig. 3). 



5. If we repeat the experiment, but with eyes shut, then the 

 deviations sub 4 are more distinctly visible. 



6. If we allow the vestibular suffering patient to touch our hands, 

 then one gets a very important amelioration, even a nearly abolished 

 ataxia (fig. 4). 



If the symptoms which these patients show are put together, then 

 we have three types : 



a. distinct deviation while walking with open eyes, while the 

 hands do not find contact. 



h. increasing of these deviations, when tiie eyes are shut. 



c. gait nearly noi'mal, at least important improvement of it, when 

 the hands find contact. 



If one wants to comprehend these three differences well, then it 

 is necessary to bring to the foreground that our movement equili- 

 brium, as it were, is principally regulated by the eyes, the vestibular 

 organ and the equilibrium sensation ^) of the trunk and the lower limbs. 



Of these three factors the eyes are the least important, which is 

 easily tested by the fact that a per«on can walk very well with 

 his eyes shut, but directly shows disturbances, when the vestibular 

 organ or the equilibrium sensation are suffering. This can also be 

 explained, because the last two factors give proprioceptive stimuli, 

 according to the particular conception of Sherrtngton, which do not 

 affect consciousness, while the eyes convey exteroceptive stimuli, 

 with regard to the gait. We could describe it best in this way, that 

 the equilibrium is governed by the vestibular organ, also by the 

 equilibrium sensation of the trunk and the limbs, while the eyes 

 only regulate the intended direction of the movements. 



Therefore when a patient suffering from tabes walks, he does not 

 wholly dispose of the three above mentioned factors, but he walks, 

 if we are allowed to express it thus, by his eyes, by the vestibular 

 organ and the rests of the equilibrium sensation of the ti'unk and 

 the legs. The result is, that the movements become uncertain. If 

 such a person shuts his eyes, then the exteroceptive stimuli, moreover. 



do this and who walk along the edge of the paper ^ are asked not to support 

 the patient, but to give way as it were in vertical direction to the movements, 

 which the patient^ makes. Their hands therefore have to balance too. The patient 

 has no support, but only contact sensation with the persons who walk alongside 

 of him, and by which his equilibrium sensation can orientate itself. 



1) Equilibrium sensation has to be interpreted as an independent subdivision of 

 that, which till now is brought together in conception of "deep-sensation". 



