Pseudosclerosis of Strümpell-westphal in Five Members of a Family.

IN 1878 Striimpell' reported a case resembling multiple sclerosis in which he found abnormal hardness and consistency of the brain. He suggested several possible causes, including hypertrophy or atrophy of the brain, senility, alcoholism, saturnism, and acute or chronic inflammatory processes. In 1883, Westphal" reported two cases resembling multiple sclerosis, but the microscopic examinations of the brain and spinal cord were negative. These cases showed progressive dementia, which appeared early in the course of the disease, and were characterized by absence of nystagmus.