PINEAL 143 



into the hospital the following observations, among 

 others, were made: The patient gave evidence of 

 slight loss of volitional control in both legs and 

 arms. Although a child of eight years he looked 

 a boy of 15 or 16 both in size and development. The 

 mental state of the patient was difficult to estimate. 

 He seemed precocious in certain particulars but 

 definitely retarded in others. He had been unable 

 to attend school because of his headaches and for 

 this reason his actual rating could not be made. 



"Furthermore, on his admittance to the hospital 

 he was suffering from such extreme headaches that 

 only the statement of his parents could be depended 

 on in estimating his age. The spinal fluid on lum- 

 bar puncture appeared to be under increased ten- 

 sion, but it was negative to all special tests. The 

 blood and urine were also negative. The lesion in 

 this case was a brain tumor. Evidence of the focus 

 of the lesion was afforded by the precocious somatic 

 (pertaining to the framework of the body) devel- 

 opment and precocious sexual development and 

 growth. The optic atrophy and blindness, together 

 with headaches, convulsions, somnolence and death, 

 can be accounted for by a growth involving the 

 pineal gland in such a way as to compromise the 

 aqueduct of Sylvius (a passage which connects the 

 third and fourth ventricle or cavity of the brain. 

 The pineal is connected with the roof of the third 

 ventricle) and thus give rise to an internal hydro* 



