1894.] On the Elasticity of the Living Brain* $s. 275 



No fibres get into the opposite pyramid by way of the corpus 

 callosum. 



I Stimulation with absinthe shows that the bulbo-spinal centres (in- 

 cluding the cerebellum) alone, can produce a series of clonic fits, 

 differing from the cortical in the .much slower rhythm of the con- 

 tractions. But from the complete section of the cord experiments it 

 seems improbable that the cord alone can be excited by absinthe. 



Immediate hemisection of the cord prevents the absinthe fit on that 

 side ; but after recovery a modified fit results upon the side of the 

 lesion, in spite of the fact that the direct lateral and crossed pyramidal 

 tracts are completely degenerate, as well as the internuncial fibres in 

 the anterior and lateral columns. 



When one hemisphere is removed or a complete hemisection made 

 in the quadrigeminal region, there are bilateral fits, in spite of the 

 fact that one pyramidal system is completely degenerate. The fits 

 are modified upon the side opposite to the lesion, the clonus being less 

 marked, and the first fit being absent or very small. 

 If, in the last two cases, a hemisection is made upon the side of the 

 degenerate pyramid, it instantly arrests the fits upon that side, the 

 section interrupting the sound direct pyramidal tract. 



I therefore conclude that the maximal effect of absinthe is produced 

 when the motor area is present, and that the impulses generated 

 there are distributed by the pyramidal system in the way described, 

 the maximal effect crossing to the opposite side, the question of uni- 

 iterality or bilaterality being one of degree as shown by the differ- 

 ences between the initial and subsequent fits, and as borne out by the 



ilative sizes of the crossed and uncrossed tracts. 



The epilepsy due to absinthe indicates that there are probably very 

 lany epileptiform attacks in man which are toxic. 



"A Research into the Elasticity of the Living Brain, and 

 the Conditions governing the Recovery of the Brain after 

 Compression for Short Periods." By A. G. LEVY, M.B. 

 (London). Communicated by Professor HORSLEY, F.R.S. 

 Received February 21, 1894. 



(From the Laboratory of the Pathological Department of University College, 



London.) 



(Abstract.) 



(Towards the expenses of this research a grant was made by the 

 British Medical Association at the recommendation of the Scientific 

 Grants Committee.) 



In view of the great frequency of compression of the brain as a 

 ithological condition, it seems very advisable to attempt to obtain 



