THE INTER- AND INTRA-SPACES 51 



and a means of assisting " elimination" in symptomatically 

 allied morbid entities in the processes of diagnosis and 

 treatment. 



Thus, from the point, or points, at which the cerebro- 

 spinal fluid effects an entrance into the matrix of the 

 neuroglia of the cord, a process of softening and dis- 

 integration of its amorphous elements, followed by a 

 breakdown of the neuroglial reticular framework of sup- 

 porting and innervating texture takes place, leaving the 

 local neurons unprovided with nutritive pabulum, and 

 bereft of mechanical support for their cell bodies and 

 attached dendritic and axonal processes, in which condi- 

 tion they collapse and disappear, causing the paralysis and 

 degeneration of their peripheral or histologically continu- 

 ous neuro-musculature, and, to some extent, affecting the 

 related sympathetically innervated structures. Its sympto- 

 matology, therefore, must vary according to the rate of 

 incidence of the destructive effects of the neuroglial break- 

 down on the local neuronal structures, and can thus be 

 made to measure the progress that is being made in the 

 syringo-myelic process. 



Moreover, the destruction of the neuronal textures is 

 usually realised by the myopathic degeneration and dis- 

 appearance of the sarcous elements of the dependent 

 musculature, with, frequently, the appearance of whitlows 

 or cold abscesses, which represent in such circumstances the 

 passive accumulations of the resultant muscular debris^ 

 and the final stage of neuro-muscular paralytic breakdown 

 and sarcous degeneration. 



These accumulations of neuro-muscular debris usually 

 take place on the outer surface of the bones, to all appear- 

 ance from a too consistent condition to pass through it, 

 on account of the lymphatic vasculature being overwhelmed 

 with, and unable to absorb and pass on for excretion, so 

 much semi-solid waste material, and to the non-connection 

 of that material with any other vasculature capable of 

 effecting the formidable work of its removal ; hence, it 

 must either remain pseudo-encapsulated or effect its escape 

 by the aid of ulceration or necrosis of the overlying 

 tissues. The condition must, therefore, be regarded as 

 one of complete and melancholy hopelessness. 



