Physiology. — "Cerebellar ataxia as dlsturhance of the equilibrium' 

 sensation." By Dr. D. .1. Hulshoff Pol. (Communicated by 



Prof. C. WiNKLKR.) 



(Communicated in tlie meeting of Jan. 26, 1918). 



In a former paper') I explained, that the ataxia which a patient, 

 suffering from tabes, shows, while walking, is nearlj-quite al)olished 

 when he has by means of his hands contact-sensation with the 

 persons walking to his right as well as to his left side. 



The reason for this improved walking has to be looked for in 

 the fact, that as long as the affliction resides in the lower part 

 of the spinal cord, it enables him to make use of the eqnilibi'ium- 

 sensation of the upper limbs (afferent-propriaceptive stimuli), and in 

 this way he can orientate himself better in space. 



If this latter happens to be, then all the efïerent impulses, neces- 

 sary for the regulated movements, can run down along the motor 

 paths to the trunk and the lower limbs, through which the ataxia 

 becomes abolished, respectively ameliorated. 



1 expressed myself thus, that where an ordinary person walks by 

 his eyes and the equilibrium-sensation of the vestibular apparatus, 

 the trunk and the lower limbs, a tabes-patient does it by the 

 equilibrium-sensation of the vestibular apparatus and the rests of 

 that which is still left in the trunk and lower liml)s. 



If such a person therefore has contact-sensation Avilh people 

 walking alongside of him, he moreovei- walks by the equilibiium- 

 sensation of the upper limbs. 



If one examines, nota tabes-patient, but a sufferer from the vestibular 

 organ, then, as I wrote, such a patient will walk by his eyes, the 

 equilibrium sensation of the trunk and legs and the rests of the 

 equilibrium impulses which are obtained through the vestibular 

 apparatus. If one therefore gives to such a patient contact sensation 

 through persons walking alongside of him, then it also appears that 

 he is enabled to walk normally again or at least neaily normally. 

 As the ataxia, which both these patients show, are both almost 

 totally abolished through the same influence, viz. contact sensation 



>) Our equilibriuniorgan. Those Proceedings p. 626. 



