SECTION OF THE CEPHALIC THIRD OF THE VAGUS-SPINAL ACCESSORY COMPLEX

Abstract

It has been demonstrated¹that the vagus-spinal accessory complex contains some roots which are chiefly sensory and others which are chiefly motor. The possibility of operative severance of that portion of the complex which is predominantly sensory in cases of intractable pain was thereby suggested. The present communication deals with a case in which approximately the cephalic third of the roots of the vagus-spinal accessory complex was divided in an attempt to abolish pain in the head and in which the opportunity for studying the brain stem later presented itself. REPORT OF A CASE A man aged 57 was admitted to the Beth Israel Hospital, Newark, N. J., under the care of Dr. William Ehrlich, with a diagnosis of carcinoma of the tongue which involved the glands of his neck. He complained of severe pain on the right side of his head "coming out of the ear." The pain