INTRIGUED by the challenge of the article by Macht and Kuhn,1 in which it is pointed out that there is a paucity of information on the reflexes evoked by cold stimuli in spinal man, we studied such responses in our material of injuries to the spinal cord.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
One hundred and fifty-two patients were studied, 43 with lesions of the cervical portion of the spinal cord, 69 with lesions of the thoracic segments and 40 with lesions of the lumbar segments. At times, for some particular investigation, such as that of reflex activity in the upper extremities from stimulation of the upper extremities, a smaller number of patients were studied with special attention to this detail, and the number will be indicated in appropriate paragraphs.The stimulus consisted of the application of a wisp of cotton saturated with ether. The inefficacy of touch itself was determined by