2l8 
THOMPSON YATES LABORATORIES REPORT 
and applied the name of ' Deuteropathic ' to this class of atrophies. He quotes a case of left 
hemiplegia depending on a haemorrhagic lesion in the right hemisphere. Two months after the 
onset of paralysis marked atrophy set in, and at the autopsy, atrophy, and even disappearance of 
the cells in the spinal cord, was noted. 
Since tiiis time a large number of cases presenting similar symptoms have been examined, 
in some with negative results, but in others atrophy of the cells has been found to a marked 
degree. Such was the case in examples given by Joffroy and Achard,* BRlssAUD,t and 
PiTRES.t The case quoted by the last-mentioned writer was one of hemiplegia with marked 
atrophy of the deltoid and hand muscles. Examination of the spinal cord showed that in the 
cervical enlargement the cells of the anterior internal group were alone preserved. 
A more recent case is given by Schaffer,§ who used the Nissl method of staining ; this 
was one of hemiplegia in which the patient died 48 days after the onset of paralysis. Chroma- 
tolysis was found in the cells of the posterior lateral group in both cervical and lumbar 
enlargements. 
I have made the following observations in this connection. 
Exp. 1. Cat. Complete transection of the cord at the level of 1st lumbar segment ; killed on the i^th day. 
Series of sections cut in several segments as low down as the Vlllth post-thoracic. The cord was 
found to be in good condition and quite free from inflammatory complications. 
Sections were examined from below the site of the lesion to the lower part of the Ilnd lumbar 
segment. 
In the Cat Clarke's Column is \\ ell marked in this position, and many of the cells showed undoubted 
chromatolysis. 
The cord at the region of the enlargement was quite normal, and no altered cells could be found. 
In the middle of the lumbar region, however, a considerable number of the cells were in a distinct 
state of chromatolysis, but the large majority were unaffected. The situation of the altered cells was 
chiefl}' in the posterior part of the grey matter as shown in Fig. 3. 
Fig. 3 
Fig. 3. Diagram indicating position of altered cells after complete transection of the cord. Degeneration of white 
matter shown on one side. Sketch taken from mid-lumbar region. Black circles indicate cells showing chromatolysis. 
Unshaded triangles normal cells. 
* Joffroy and Achard. 'Arch, de Medecine Experimentale.' 
vii. p. 780. ,1891. 
t Brissaud. 'Revue Mensuelle,' 1897, p. 616. 
X Pitres. 'Arch, de Phys.,' 1876, p. 657. 
§ Schaffer. ' Monats. f. Psych, und Neurol.' 1897. 
