Introduction
In two previous reports* it was stated that in the course of investigation on the effect of N-methyl-α,α-methylphenylsuccinimide (PM 396) upon petit mal epilepsy, a favorable action of this drug was noted on the psychomotor element sometimes associated with petit mal attacks. Since to date psychomotor epilepsy is the most difficult of all forms of epilepsy to treat and there are no outstanding drugs in the therapeutic armamentarium for the treatment of this condition, this particular investigation was carried further. It is now possible to report results on 35 cases of psychomotor epilepsy treated with this drug.
Pharmacology
N-methyl-α,α-methylphenylsuccinimide (hereinafter designated by its laboratory number PM 396) was synthesized in the laboratories of Parke, Davis & Company. Figure 1 shows the chemicalSubmitted for publication Dec. 1, 1955.From the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and the Division of Child Neurology, the Neurological Institute of New York.