THE DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS OF LEPROSY AND SYRINGOMYELIA.

A number of observers have of late pointed out the close clinical resemblance between syringomyelia and the nervous form of leprosy—in fact it has been contended that the former is but a variety of the latter. While not going so far, it must be admitted that the differentiation is at times not easy, although a careful consideration of anatomic, etiologic and symptomatic details will usually remove any diagnostic doubt. Little difficulty is encountered in the recognition of the tuberous variety of leprosy, the characteristic cutaneous nodules being quite distinctive. The complexus of symptoms described byMorvanas painless whitlow is not generally viewed as an independent disorder, but rather as the manifestation of some primary affection, which is most commonly either syringomyelia or leprosy. In view of the insidious and widespread dissemination of leprosy, its discrimination from the diseases which it most closely resembles is a matter of considerable importance,