General acute myelitis resembles the spastic disease in its increase of reflex excitability and absence of atrophy, but differs from it by producing paralysis of the sphincters, diminishing the cutaneous sensibility, and pro the formation of bed-sores. Besides, there is a well-defined hori zontal limit beyond which the disease does not pass, and there is no ap proach to the muscular rigidity which is such a characteristic feature of spasmodic spinal paralysis.
In paralysis of cerebral origin the loss of power is accompanied by ten sion of muscle and spasmodic contractions, the joints are stiff and ex tended, the muscles do not atrophy and continue to respond to faradism, and the reflex irritability of tendons is preserved. But in such a case there is paralysis of cerebral nerves, the loss of power is hemiplegic in distri bution, the rigidities and contractions are very late to occur, and sensa tion as well as motion is affected.
Prognosis.—The life of the patient appears to be in no danger from the illness, but at the same time his chances of recovery are small. Little is
known as to the course of the disease in the child, but none of Dr. Gee's cases were influenced by treatment in the slightest degree.
Treatment.—Erb recommends the galvanic current applied principally to the spine, but also to the affected limbs, and the application of cold compresses. Drugs appear to have but slight influence on the disease.
In a case of recovery reported by Von der Velden—in a man aged twenty seven—bromide of potassium, belladonna, and morphia had no beneficial influence ; indeed, the latter seemed to increase the number and intensity of the attacks. Chloral, however, was useful'in moderating the spasmodic attacks when they were at their worst, and improvement began to be man ifested while the patient was taking the double salt of gold and sodium. In Dr. Gee's cases hemlock, belladonna, Calabar bean, and strychnia—the two last hypodermically—were used in turn, but without the slightest benefit.