THE STUDY OF CHOREA. 115 



whole organized world. Among other matters, we 

 might consider the transmission of sensitive im- 

 pressions from one part of the plant to another ; 

 the metamorphosis of parts of a plant according to 

 the functions discharged ; the irritability or sensi- 

 tiveness of plants, which is in some cases far greater 

 than anything seen in man ; the production of acid 

 .secretions in mobile plants; and numerous oilier 

 facts easily observed in plants facts of great 

 interest to the physiologist and pathologist ; and 

 in this direction Mr. Darwin's researches, follow- 

 ing those of Sachs, are a climax to investigations 

 carried on since the time of Sprengel ; facts which 

 Sir James Paget * would have us apply to the study 

 of human pathology. 



In different cases of chorea very different groups 

 of muscles may be affected, thus indicating the very 

 different brain areas that may be choreic. In 

 studying a case of chorea we try and indicate the 

 extent of brain affected by specially indicating the 

 choreic area. The following points then should 

 always be looked for as present or absent in any 

 case described and the order of invasion of groups 

 of muscles or their recovery should be observed : 



1. In examining a case to prove the fact of chorea 

 it is very convenient first to look at one or- both 

 hands, held out free and disengaged. The kind 

 of movements of the hand and fingers have been 

 dwelt upon and described. 



2. The upper and lower extremities present the 

 .greatest mass of the choreic movements. It is 



* See his Lectures, British Medical Journal, October 16, 1880. 



