HYDROCEPHALUS

Elsewhere,1instances have been presented of a vast accumulation of fluids in the cerebral ventricles (hydrocephalus) in the presence of defective choroid plexuses. In practically all my cases of hydrocephalus, as well as in the majority of those gathered from the literature, the choroid plexus was atrophied, buried or encased, as it were, within the walls of the ventricles, and thus rendered practically functionless. One may argue that much as the choroid plexuses were reduced, the remnants might have sufficed to function and supposedly secrete cerebrospinal fluid. Such bare possibilities were lacking in the case to be described. A huge hydrocephalus was present; yet not even traces of a choroid plexus in the lateral or third ventricles could be made out. The third ventricle was obliterated by an inflammatory process and thus completely isolated the lateral ventricles which, as said, were enormously dilated by the cerebrospinal fluid. REPORT OF