Ever since Cruveilhier reported the necropsy observations in a case of muscular dystrophy the common concept has been that the muscular system is primarily affected in this disease. Friedreich and Erb delineated the various clinical patterns of the condition and stressed the muscular involvement. There has been discussion whether or not the central nervous system may also be involved. Alterations in the carbohydrate and creatinine metabolism have been demonstrated recently.1 Occasional necropsy reports have disclosed pathologic changes in various endocrine glands, but no causal relation has been established.2
From time to time brief mention of involvement of bone has appeared, suggesting that myopathies may represent a process of more generalized nature than one involving only the muscles. Since both muscle and bone are of mesodermal origin, it is conceivable that the disease might be due to some alteration in the growth potentialities of the mesoderm.
It appeared to