Buchbesprechungen – Books Review – Livres Nouveaux

Studies on Pain Conduction in the Trigeminal Nerve. Acta Psychiatrica et Neurol. Supplementum XVII. Helsingfors 1938. Mercatorts Tryckeri. 139 pages. G. E. Stechert & Co., New York. $ 3. According to Erlanger and Gasser the nerve fibers conducting pain do not surpass 4 ft in diameter. The author bases upon this work his analysis of the trigeminal root and the bulbospinal trigeminal pathways. He arrives at the conclusion that pain from the entire trigeminal area is conducted by the bulbospinal trigeminal tract. This is in agreement with the views of Hun, Spiller, Stopford and Gerard based on cases of occlusion of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery, and led to a new operative procedure for the relief of facial pain: section of the bulbospinal trigeminal tract (trigeminal tractotomy). 9 cases were operated upon by this method. The majority showed a postoperative loss or impairment of sensation of pain, heat and cold with preservation of tactile sensation. E. S.