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This book represents the author's experience with 5,000 cases of parkinsonism from which 1,500 cases were selected for basal ganglia surgery. While the entire subject of parkinsonism is discussed, the problem of surgical therapy of this illness dominates the book.
The introductory chapter outlines the general problem of therapy of the involuntary movement disorders and follows with a brief and excellent sketch of the clinical manifestations of parkinsonism. The various medicaments employed in therapy of this disorder are then discussed and it is concluded that these drugs provide modest relief of symptoms in many patients. Symptoms usually progress, however, and these medications lose their effectiveness. The author stresses that surgery should be considered when it is apparent that the disease is progressing and the patient can no longer function effectively.
Chapter 2 is a historical review of the various surgical procedures employed in the treatment of parkinsonism. Operations on the