Babinski and the Plantar Reflex

Abstract

To the Editor: —I wish to call your attention to an error in the editorial, Babinski and the Plantar Reflex ( JAMA 183: 281 [Jan 26] 1963). As written, one is led to believe that the so-called Babinski-Nageotte syndrome has to do with locomotor ataxia. The latter term refers to ataxia dependent upon loss of sense of position and has historically been linked to tabes dorsalis. The so-called Babinski-Nageotte syndrome is based on a paper read at the Societe de Neurologie de Paris, April 17, 1902, and published under the title Hemiasynergie, lateropulsion et myosis bulbaires avec hemianesthesie et hemiplegie croisees ( Rev Neurol [Paris] 10: 358, 1902). Three patients had been seen but only one case was presented in detail. The patient, a 50-yr-old luetic, had headache, vertigo, dysphagia, nasal regurgitation, and a nasal voice. The palatal reflex was abolished. Sensations of touch and temperature were deficient on the right side