A contribution to pathogenesis of the gastric crisis; a case report of the spinal syphilis which showed painful abdominal girdle sensation and peristaltic unrest of stomach and intestine

Summary 1. We are reporting here a case of spinal lues, which showed clinically an attack of gastric crisis (peristaltic unrest and abdominal distress) accompanied simultaneously with hypersensibility (girdle pain sensation). 2. The autopsy findings revealed that the pathological changes are found in the spinal cord, meninges and spinal root fibers extending between the 5.-10. thoracic segments. Nerve fibers in the sglanchnic nerve are also found partly degenerated. These findings correspond exactly to the clinical symptoms of motor and sensory disturbances. 3. There is no change in the vagus nerve, so the cause of the gastric crisis can not be attributed to lesion of the vagus nerve. We would rather ascribe the crisis symptom to the lesin of the posterior root of the spinal cord. We believe that the lesion of the Fosterior roots causes simultaneous appearance of sensory irritation (girdle pain) and peristaltic unrest of the stomach.