88 Frederick Mott 



neuronic changes show l) a progressive suspensión of function of some 

 neuronas associated with 2) such intense biochemical and morphological 

 changes in other neurones as to indícate suppression of function, \ve are 

 able to explain remission or partial remission of some of the symptoms, 

 and sudden changes from stupor to impulsive behaviour. 



Suspensión of neuronic function due to hypofunction from defectiva 

 oxidation processes caused by auto- or heterotoxic conditions may vary 

 in intensity and degree, but suppression of function owing to germinal 

 lack of durabiüty is incapable of any remission but is progressive, so that 

 even when a remission of some of the symptoms occurs there is a resi- 

 duum of weak-mindedness, dementia simplex, which is progressive and 

 continuous. It should be mentioned that the neurones are in the nor- 

 mal individual, permanent cells adapted for a prolonged life and protected 

 by special anatomical conditions from injury and disease. 



Now it is known that some cases which at first clinically appear to be 

 cases of dementia praecox recover. Moreover, some cases of confusional 

 insanity or benign stupor of Hoch may present a cHnical picture of demen- 

 tia praecox and recover completely. It must be supposed that these 

 cases are due to a hypofunction, and we should probably find a general 

 condition of lipoid granules in the neurones with basophil chromatolysis 

 and disappearance, or partial disappearance of the Nissl granules. 



But evidence of a biochemical and morphological degeneration ol the 

 nucleus points to a condition which would end in supression of function, 

 although this condition does not necessarily imply death of the neurone 

 and atrophy of the axon (fig. Q). The morphological changes implying 

 suppression of function are found especially in the cortex and particularly 

 the cortex of the frontal lobe (highest evolutional level) in which neuroglia 

 proliferation is most marked. Associated with this are universal chan- 

 ges in the various regions of the brain pointing to hypofunction, viz., 

 lipoid granules in the cytoplasm and in many cells an oxychromatin or 

 a tendency to an oxychromatin reaction of the nucleus. 



The affection of the stellate intercalary cells which enter into the 

 synapse, and the evidence I have adduced of the importance of these 

 cells in connection with oxidation processes productive of neural energy 

 and transmission of nervous impulses, suggest that a hypofunction or 

 suspensión of function of these neurones would lead to a synaptic disso- 

 ciation and thereby account for psychic dissociation and the coming and 



