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In 1 case of tetanus, 2 specimens of the cerebrospinal fluid showed evidence of
meningeal reaction to the intrathecal inoculation of antitetanic serum but without
septic infection, the cerebrospinal fluid proving sterile, and recovery followed.
(B) Cerebral lesions.—36 specimens classified under the following headings :—
(1) Tumour.—8 specimens. Glioma or other form of neoplasm of the cerebrum
and cerebellum—6 cases. Gummata—1 case, and tuberculoma 1 case.
(2) Abscess.—Cerebral or cerebellar in 8 cases. One case associated with
bronchiectasis; (4 complicated by streptococcal meningitis, 1 tv staphylococcal
meningitis, and 2 also secondary to disease of the mastoid; included under
sections A and C).
(3) Hemorrhage.—7 specimens from 5 cases, of cerebral, or subarachnoid
haemorrhage.
(4) Encephalitis.—8 specimens from 6'cases—including 2 cases of encephalitis
lethargica, one being a post-encephalitic condition, with hysteria. Two cases, as
sequels of chickenpox, in brothers ; 1 case following mumps and 1 case occurring
after vaccination against smallpox.
(5) Cerebral degeneration.—Neurosyphilis (general paralysis)—4 cases. Polioencephalitis
(myasthenia gravis)—1 case. Dementia—2 cases.
(6) Cerebral arteriopathy.—Arterio-sclerosis—4 cases. Thrombosis with cerebral
softening—1 case.
(C) Lesions of the spinal cord.—10 specimens from 8 cases, of respectively :—
(1) Acute meningo-myelitis.
(2) Acute anterior poliomyelitis.
(3) Erb's specific paraplegia, neurosyphilitic paraplegia, and tabes dorsalis.
(4) Spastic paraplegia and hysterical paraplegia.
(5) Endothelioma (tumour at the level of the 4th dorsal vertebra).
(D) Inflammatory conditions of the ear, nasal and accessory sinuses.—
10 specimens from 9 cases :—
(1) Chronic otitis media and mastoid disease, in 6 cases complicated by secondary
meningitis or cerebral abscess in 4 cases.
(2) Inflammation of the nasal, frontal or sphenoidal sinuses in 4 cases; complicated
by meningitis in 1 case.
(E) Meningismus.—Seven specimens which showed no departure from the
normal composition, in cases with symptoms of meningitis, but subsequently proving
to be cases of diarrhoea and bronchitis; adenitis; pneumonia; pyelitis; and
rickets with convulsions.
(F) Miscellaneous diseases.—16 specimens. Examination was made of
cerebrospinal fluid in a variety of acute and chronic conditions, in which lumbar
puncture had been performed ; but revealed nothing abnormal in the fluid ; therefore
eliminating meningitis and neurosyphilis. Such cases proved eventually to be
enteric fever, enteritis, smallpox, miliary tuberculosis, uraemia (chronic nephritis),
arthritis and lymphangitis, valvular disease, broncho-pneumonia, Meniere's disease,
and debility.
(4) Ringworm examinations.—Out of 930 specimens of hair examined microscopically,
300, or 32 • 2 per cent., proved to be infected—238 with the small spore, and 54
with the large spore fungus, and 8 with favus. In 2 cases a positive opinion
could not be given.
(5) Miscellaneous examinations including slide preparations:—
(i) from vaginal or urethral secretions, showing gonococci in 10 out of 20 films
examined.
(ii) Of secretion from the conjunctiva, showing gonococci in 1 out of 6 film
specimens.