Of the various theories thus far advanced to explain the mechanism of seizures in essential epilepsy, the most nearly satisfactory one, in our opinion, is that which relates it to disturbances in certain physicochemical processes, such as those involved in the respiratory function of the brain cells or in the regulation of water and acid-base balance in the tissues. The important contributions bearing on the various angles of this new point of view have been admirably discussed by Lennox and Cobb1 in their recent critical review of the literature on epilepsy and so need not take extra space here.
The present communication deals with but one phase of the subject, namely, that concerned with the acid-base equilibrium. The data presented have been obtained from cases in which a study of the blood lipides was simultaneously being made with the collaboration of Dr. W. R. Bloor.
Although a number of