OBSERVATIONS ON THE ASCENDING TRACTS IN 
THE SPINAL CORD OF THE HUMAN SUBJECT 
By E. E. LASLETT, M.B., B.Sc, Dhmonstrator in Physiology 
AND 
W. B. WARRINGTON, M.D., M.R.C.P., Dkmonstrator in Pathology in University College 
Liverpool, Pathologist to the Stanley Hospital, and Assistant Physician 
TO THE Hospital for Consumption and Chest Diseases, Liverpool 
This note deals with the following ascending tracts in the human spinal cord. 
(1) Postero-median column. 
(2) Dorsal ascending cerebellar tract. 
(3) Ventral ascending cerebellar tract, including the nature of the fibres in the ventral lip. 
(4) The intra-spinal portion of the IVth posterior cervical root. 
The observations were made in two cases wliich were examined sufficiently early to allow 
the Marchi method of staining to be used. Such cases are comparatively rare, and more 
observations are necessary before the course of these tracts can be said to be thoroughly known. 
We are indebted to Sir William Banks and Mr. Rushton Parker for permission to record 
this note. 
In the autumn number of 'Brain,' 1898, Bruce gave a careful and full account of similar 
observations, in which also the Marchi method was available. With much of the description of 
this author we are in agreement, but some interesting points not shown in his figures will be 
described in this paper. A contribution on the same subject has recently been published by 
RisiEN Russell.* 
The first case was one of caries of the spine, in which microscopical examination showed 
that at the level of the lesion in the mid-thoracic region, the cord was completely disintegrated. 
The other case was a severe crush, the cord being entirely destroyed at the level of the 
Xth dorsal segment, with extensive consequent myelitis. There was also severe damage to the 
IVth posterior cervical root on the left side. 
The tissues, after hardening in Muller's fluid, were stained by the Marchi method and 
sections cut after paraffin embedding. 
(I) Postero-median column. — The postero-median column was completely degenerated as 
high as the funiculus gracilis. It ended entirely in this nucleus. In the lowest cervical region 
the degeneration extended markedly up to the posterior commissure and spread along it as far as 
the margin of the posterior horn, thus embracing the cornu-commissural zone of Marie (Fig. i). 
*' Brain,' Summer, 1898. 
