Published online by Cambridge University Press: 19 February 2018
Since experimental observation has established the fact that inflammation of the central nervous system is easily induced by infection of the ascending lymph stream of nerves, it would seem that the views regarding the ætiology of inflammatory lesions of the cerebro-spinal axis must undergo considerable revision, and that an insufficient degree of importance has so far been attributed to the rôle and wide-reaching results of lymphogenous infection. That the spinal cord and brain are exposed to infection along this path cannot be doubted. This view is based upon both clinical and experimental data; and its value in connection with the elucidation of the ætiology of some nervous lesions may now receive more recognition, seeing that the range of application of the hæmatogenous theory is becoming more limited. To take one example: acute anterior poliomyelitis is no longer regarded by neurologists as a hæmatogenous infection of the spinal cord, with a special selectivity for the motor nuclei. Recent work shows conclusively that the inflammatory phenomena can only be the result of a lymphogenous infection.
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