The Cerebro-spinal Fluid in General Paralysis and the Nervous Lues

Extract

I wish to lay before you the results of an examination of the cerebro-spinal fluid in general paralysis and the nervous lues compared with insanities of almost every type, with a few cases of organic disease other than brain disease, and with ten normal fluids. The most serious difficulty met with in obtaining fluid by lumbar puncture with a view to chemical analysis is the admixture of blood. I may mention that in no instance have I seen any ill-effects on a patient from the withdrawal of the fluid; nor have I noticed any abatement in the acute conditions of general paralysis. The investigation has included the detection of albumose, nucleo-protein, and cholin; the reactions, according to Wasserman, Noguchi, Porges-Meier, associated with syphilis; and an estimation of the cell content, specific gravity, and the reduction of Fehling solution.