Abstract
The author submits here a report on four cases of paralysis agitans that occurred extending over two generations in the mother's lineage (two brothers, their sister, and their maternal uncle).
Two brothers fell ill in their twenties, and the other two in their thirties. Therefore, it may be said that this disease belongs to what is called familiar juvenil paralysis agitans by Willige. Two cases gave the typical symptoms of paralysis agitans while the rest presented atypical symptoms, that is “formes frustes”.
In the observation of starting mechanism of their disease, the following symptoms were revealed:
Tremor began from the lower part of legs earlier than muscle rigidity. Moreover, the process of this disease was progressive-chronic. No remarkable changes in mental state could be recognized, but the changes in temperaments and characters were noticed as this disease proceeded. The family history shows that their father was married to his cousin, and their mother's youngest brother died of psychose. The other members of their family, however, were free from psychiatric disease especially senile psychose.
Today, in regard to the cause of paralysis agitans, various theories have been advanced, for instance, symptomatic disorder theory according which this disease is caused by senile process or encephalitis, and heredodegenerative theory, etc. The author is inclined to consider that paralysis agitans is due to the heredodegenerative disease and that it may be dominant heredity.
