POTT'S PARAPLEGIA

¹ The Orthopedic Clinic of the Carney Hospital.

At the beginning of this paper we stated as our belief that paralysis occurring in Pott's disease should be regarded not as a regrettable incident in the course of the disease but as evidence of the activity of a tuberculous process. We would reiterate that contention and urge that if this is a true and reasonable contention it should cause us to redouble our efforts to control the underlying disease and so long as it persists make us cautious in giving a prognosis as to the cure of the condition that is behind it, particularly in adults. In seeking to relieve the condition we should be guided by the character of the symptoms and be loathe to permit operative interference until there is further and more convincing evidence at hand that surgery can play any part in the cure of these conditions.

The following cases are cited in detail and referred to above in certain instances to lay emphasis upon points brought out in the test.

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