634 



For these cases too it is iiupoi'laiit, tluil when the patients, l>y 

 means of tlieir arms, receive eqnilibrinm contact throngh persons 

 walking at their side, then the ataxia either very importantly im- 

 proves or it entirely is abolished. 



Here too we see, that the eqnilibrinm contact of the arms replaces 

 totally, or for a very large amonnt the [)roprioceptive impnlses from 

 the vestibnlar organ. 



Therefore we can say for this case: 



a: a ^■estibnlar patient walks by his eyes, by the ecpiilibrinm 

 sensation of the trnnk and the legs, and the atferent-[)roprioceptive 

 stimnli from the vestibular organ, which is left to him. 



b: if sncli a patient has eqnilibrinm contact with persons leading 

 him, then he iiioreoiwr walks by the eqnilil)rinm sensation of the arms. 



In case d he lacks atferent eqnilibrinm stimuli and the patient 

 walks atactic. In case h the ataxia totally or partially disappears, 

 because his lack is siq)plied. 



Now the peculiarity of the results fonnd is, in tabes as well as 

 in vestibular alfeclion, tliat the equilibrium sensation of the arms cmi 

 compensate the equilibrium sensation of the trunk and leys as juell 

 as the impulses from our vestibular o re/ an. 



On account of this the question arises whether it is possil)le, that 

 in our equilibrium dilFerent organs can replace each other. 



This (piestion deserves to be ans\vered in the aftirmative to a 

 certain extent. 



If e.g. we close the eyes of a person, who is then asked to walk 

 straight on, there will be many, who deviate to the right or to the 

 left. The reason of it will depend among other things on the fact, 

 that the proprioceptive ecpiilibrium stimuli, which arise from both 

 the halves of the body, are not of the same strength ; the result is 

 that one half predominates and that the gait will not be totally 

 straight. If we place, however, at a distance a |)erson, who connts, 

 then the blindfolded person will be able, guided by the sound, to 

 walk straight on towards the counting person. The extero-ceplive 

 stimnli, which pass from the ears towards the cerebrum, comj)lete the 

 others, through which the straight gait is made possible. The sense 

 of hearing comes to the aid of the equilibrium sensation. It is also 

 well-known that the eye sense can give direction to our movements. 



It is comprehensible that as these two senses are already able to 

 give assistance under normal circumstances to the equilibrium sensation, 

 they can help the sutfering person in yet higher degree after practice. 



It is also a well-known fact that e.g. the ataxia in tabes patients, 

 who can still walk straight with their eyes opened, comes to the 



