Lesion of Cranial Nerve VII

To the Editor.  —I read with interest the report by Spector and Stark.¹ I wish to comment on only the clinical dictum described by the authors: "a lesion of the seventh cranial nerve proximal to the geniculate ganglion invariably produces a loss of taste appreciation and tearing in addition to the peripheral facial palsy." This is not always true. A lesion of the motor nucleus of the seventh cranial nerve, as in acute anterior poliomyelitis or X-linked recessive bulbospinal neuronopathy, is usually not accompanied by problems in taste and/or tearing.Letters to the editor should be submitted as an original and two duplicates. They should be typewritten doublespaced on plain bond paper; they will be subject to editing. If they are prepared on a word processor, do not justify the right margin. A copyright transmittal letter signed by all authors must accompany this (see "Instructions for Authors").