In pigmentary degeneration of the retina, the first symptom noticed by the patient is as a rule a disturbance of vision in dim light. This suggests that some form of test of the light sense could be used to detect the incipient stages of the disease, prior to the appearance of changes in the fundus, diminution in the visual acuity or alterations in the visual fields.
A definite diagnosis of pigmentary degeneration in its incipient stages might be of help in determining the efficacy of possible therapeutic measures. Many remedies have been tried, with reports of moderate success by some investigators and of complete failure by others.1 Hepburn2 stated the belief that one reason why sympathectomy frequently fails to influence the course of pigmentary degeneration is that it is not undertaken early enough. The same criticism may perhaps be applicable to the negative findings reported for other forms