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While paralysis agitans is not a common affection, its frequency being put by the majority of observers at about 1 per cent. of all nervous diseases, it has been recognized as a distinct clinical entity since 1817, when its neurologic syndromes were first described by Parkinson, a well developed case of "shaking palsy" presents no difficulty in the matter of diagnosis.
It would seem, however, that the psychic manifestations of this disease have to a great extent been overshadowed by the neurologic symptoms; most writers dismiss the mental changes with the statement that there may be present in this disease some irritability and in cases occuring late in life some defects of memory, while still other observers assert that as a rule the mind remains entirely clear.
Unquestionably, there are many cases of paralysis agitans that are uncomplicated by well marked mental symptoms; but, on the other hand, there are