ATAXY LOCOMO'TOR, a nervous disease showing itself in disordered movements of the limbs of locomotion. It is not paralysis, but loss of power to order harmoni ously the muscles that move the body and maintain equilibrium. It begins insidiously and grows slowly. The earlier symptoms are disorder of vision, uneasiness in the back, with shooting pains through the limbs; increasing or perverted sensibility, and disturb ance in the genitourinary functions. Later, the victim feels that his walking is not firm and sure; that there is some soft substance between his feet and the ground; he walks with difficulty, and with short and hurried steps; each leg is lifted well up, but as he moves it forward, it is thrown out from him and the heel descends with force while the sole comes awkwardly after it. He now requires the aid of vision to walk at all, and looks steadily at his feet or at a point a little in front of them, and he cannot make a sudden turn without great risk of falling. If he stand erect with his feet together or nearly so, and take his eyes off them, he begins to totter and would fall if not supported. These phenomena are not the result of weakness of motor power, but only of defective muscular co-ordination. Diminished sensibility in the feet and legs is usual in this disease. The upper limbs are sometimes affected, so that though the hands retain all their natural muscular power, the sufferer cannot unfasten a button, or pick up a pin, or feed himself. At later stages the disease renders Walking impossi
ble, the legs moving loosely about, and the control of the sight upon the feet ceasing. Then the patient takes to his bed, the pains and jerking of the limbs increase, the motor power is quite gone, and he sinks under complete exhaustion or some intercur reut disease. Although usually going to a fatal termination, the disease is sometimes arrested, and appears to be quite conquered, particularly in its earlier stages. In most cases it extends over several years. A. L. arises from disease of a portion of the spinal cord, viz.: the posterior columns and the posterior nerve roots, which become atrophied and indurated. The exciting causes arc not well understood, but exposure to cold, over exertion, privation, intemperance. and mental anxiety have been suggested as prob able. It is sometimes hereditary, and is more common among males than females. It is developed usually not till middle life, from the age of 30 to 50. Beyond allevi ation of pain little can be done by medicine, though many remedies have been tried. Electricity has been recommended by eminent authorities. Perhaps the best course is to attend carefully to the general health and regimen.