The diagnosis of diseases of the spinal cord / by W. R. Gowers.

  • Gowers, W. R. (William Richard), 1845-1915.
Date:
1884
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The diagnosis of diseases of the spinal cord / by W. R. Gowers. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University Libraries/Information Services, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University.

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    there. The relative size of these tracts varies in different individuals; the more fibres that have crossed in the medulla, the smaller is the direct tract, and vice verm. The direct tract may even be absent, all the fibres having crossed above (Flechsig). Regarding the lateral pyramidal tract, it may be observed that it is situated behind the level of the anterior cornu, that it does not usually extend quite up to the posterior cornu (although it may do so behind), and that it does not extend up to the surface of the cord, being limited by a zone (* Fig. 4), in which there is no descending degene- ration. The fibres of this zone are said (by Flechsig) to descend from the cerebellum.* We have further evidence that the fibres in the posterior parts of the lateral columns descend from above, in the fact that, if the cord is de- stroyed at any level, these fibres on each side degenerate below the lesion, just as they do on one side after a cerebral lesion. Such bilateral degeneration is shown in Fig. 5, 0, c c, the lesion causing it being indicated at A. Bilateral degeneration of these tracts is shown also on the Plate, Fig. 2, b b. This degeneration is currently, although not very happily, termed sclerosis, and the degeneration Fig. 5. * The direct pyramidal tract is also called the column of Tiirck; the postero-median column is called the column of Goll, and the postero- external column is called the column of Burdach. I have avoided the use of these terms. This system of nomenclature is full of inconvenience, increasing the difficulties of the student, and leading to frequent mistakes in scientific writings. There are very few observations in medicine regard- ing which it is not obvious that they would speedily have been made by some jone other than the actual observer; that it was very much of an accident that they were made by certain individuals. Scientific nomen- clature should be itself scientific, not founded upon accidents. However anxious we may be to honour individuals, we have no right to do so at the expense of the convenience of all future generations of learners.