OBSERVATIONS ON DIAPHRAGMATIC MOVEMENT IN SOME NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS

Abstract

Diaphragmatic movement in 14.control subjects, 14 hemiplegics and other cases was recorded by the method of Gilson, utilizing a fluoroscopic screen on which the movements of the dome of the diaphragm were traced. In hemiplegia, the diaphragm moves less on the paralyzed side during forced breathing. In mysasthenia gravis, the diaphragmatic movement is smaller than normal and irregular if the thymus has not been removed. Prostigmine causes disappearance of these symptoms. In 4 of 5 cases of damage to the cervical spinal cord there were various degrees of diaphragmatic palsy with abnormally low vital capacity. 2 cases of palatal myoclonus, 6 of myopathy, 5 of .Parkinson''s syndrome, 3 with traumatic paraplegia, 1 with myotonia congenita, 1 with progressive lenticular degeneration, 1 with spasmodic torticollis and writer''s cramp, and 3 with idio-pathic hypoparathyroidism showed no diaphragmatic abnormalities. There was grossly irregular diaphragmatic movement in 2 cases of Huntington''s chorea and in 1 case of severe dystonia musculorum deformans.