The diagnosis is based upon the pathognomic features of the dementia. Involutional melancholia and manic depressive insanity may be distinguished by the absence of intellectual enfeeblement, by the preservation of lucidity, and by the intensity of the affective phenomena psychic pain or euphoria. General paresis may be differentiated by the more rapid development of dementia and by its special physical signs. Alcoholic dementia shows the physical signs of chronic alcoholism: muscular pain, tremors, gastric disorders, etc. Senile dementia and alcoholic dementia may exist together. The anatomical lesions arise from a process of wear and atrophy: atheroma of the cerebral arteries, thickening of the meninges, diminution of the weight of the brain, which may sometimes fall below 1000 grams; thinning of the cortex; numerous miliary plaques; diminution of the number of nerve-cells, chromatolysis, pigmentary degeneration, atrophy; disappearance of a large number of tangential fibers. The treatment, purely symptomatic, consists chiefly in hygienic measures. Commitment is but seldom necessary. The majority of cases are best treated in special asylums for the aged or in private homes. Marie, P., 408. Marinesco, G., 367. Marshall, C. F., 195, 207. Martin, 342. Masselon, 247, 251. Mayer, M., 7, 201. Meyer, Adolf, 10, 151, 281, 282, Mignot, R., 401. Minet, J., 110. Moebius, P. J., 426. Moeli, 241, 242. Moll, Albert, 343. Ogilvie, H. S., 434. Ormea, A. d', 245. Pal, 422. Parchappe, 393. Pearson, K., 226. Perusini, G., 498. Peterson, F., 10, 175. Pichon, 472, 473, 476. Pilcz, A., 252. Pitres, A., 347. Plant, F., 227, 426. Pochon, 162. Pollock, H. M., 18. Power, D'Arcy, 207, 439. Rauschburg, P., 498. Régis, E., 242, 347, 351, 503. Ribot, Th., 54, 57, 58, 91, 347. Ritti, A., 405, 503. Robertson, A., 402, 416, 438. 115, 131, 155, 156, 157, 158, Rosanoff, Isabel R., 157. Rosenthal, 112, 113, 114. Russell, Wm. L., 497 Sadras, 393. Saulle, Legrand du, 235, 237, 417. Saury, H., 480. Schneider, L., 7, 201 Schüle, 79. Schwartz, 242. Séglas, J., 36, 43, 44, 65, 69, 71, 107, 287, 329, 348, 462, 463. Serieux, P., 45, 162, 163, 251, 376, 394. Serveaux, 79, 376, 403. Shields, 489. Siebert, 46. Simon, Th., 109, 132, 149, 151, Singer, H. D., 495. Sioli, 285. Smith, A., 8, 201. Snydacker, E. F., 430. Sollier, P., 227, 228, 230, 339, Somers, E. M., 493. Sommer, R., 60, 101, 235. Southard, E. E., 285, 493. Spiethoff, 433. Stoddart, W. H. B., 258. Swalm, 128, 420, 441. Tambourini, A., 45. Thoma, 112. Tiffany, W. J., 498. Toulouse, E., 245. |