Electroencephalography has probably made its most conspicuous diagnostic success in epilepsy. The records that the Gibbses publish reveal not only the kind of waves that come from an epileptic in convulsion but waves that indicate epilepsy of the masked type—that is, epilepsy that is not apparent at all. moreover, there is strong evidence that the way epilepsy rung in families can be traced—a mat-for of the highest importance to eugenists. It is possible to detect even some carriers of epilepsy that is, persons who are not themselves manifestly epileptic but who might have epileptic children if they married persons who had seizures. If brain-wave recording had only this accomplishments to its credit it would be a great advance.
Though the Gibbses have necessarily devoted much space to epilepsy they also show the diagnostic power of brain-wave recording in other States. Low sugar, overventilation, concussion, birth injuries, paralysis of one side produced by a blood clot, cerebral hemorrhages, cerebral arteriosclerosis, meningitis, multiple sclerosis. slow and involuntary twitching of the face, finger or toe (athetosis), St. Vituss dance, narcoleptic sleep, migraine headaches, manic-depressive psychoses, schizophrenia, moronic states, imbecility, water on the brain. thyroid disease, brain tumors—all produce characteristic waves. though it is probably too much to claim that the records alone can be relied upon for certain diagnosis.
There is no doubt that the Drs. Gibbs have presented their medical colleagues with an important pioneer work. Instead of studying the vast literature on electroencephalography the medico who wants to use brain waves in dia-nosing mental disorders can now turn to a single, exhaustive authoritative work.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.