The Ketogenic Diet in the Treatment of Epilepsy
Authors: WILLIAM A. SMITH
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1929)

Article1 June 1929The Ketogenic Diet in the Treatment of EpilepsyWILLIAM A. SMITH, M.D.WILLIAM A. SMITH, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-2-12-1300 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptEpilepsy is a symptom-complex consisting of sudden periodic loss of consciousness, convulsive movements or both. Of the same nature are certain other phenomena referred to as epileptic equivelants, such as migraine, certain cases of periodic vertigo, periodic voracity, dipsomania and other periodic mental disorders. Epilepsy is thus a periodic reaction of the nervous system, in which various motor, sensory, visceral and psychic syndromes may occur. Levy and Patrick (1) have recently described a number of so-called pre-epileptic phenomena, which may antedate the major seizure for many years; these consist of minor, but sudden and periodic symptoms, such as pallor of...References(1) LEVYPATRICK DMH: Recurrent 'attacks' Other Than Migraine and Infantile Convulsions Preceding 'True' Epilepsy. Arch. Neurol. and Psychiat. 20: 443. Sept. 1928. CrossrefGoogle Scholar(2) BLOCK EB: Epilepsy and Organic Brain Disease." Ann. Int. Med. 2: 531. Dec. 1928. LinkGoogle Scholar(3) LENNOXCOBB WGS: Epilepsy. Medicine 7: 105. May 1928. CrossrefGoogle Scholar(4) MUSKENS LJ: Epilepsy.—Comparative Pathogenesis, Symptoms, Treatment. Wm. Wood and Co. New York. 1928. Google Scholar(5) COLLIER J: Epilepsy. Lumleian Lectures. Lancet 1: 687. April 7, 1928. CrossrefGoogle Scholar(6) ULRICH A: The Bromide-Chloride Treatment of Epilepsy. Med. J. and Rec. 126: 1, 41. July 4, 1927. Google Scholar(7) WUTH O: Rational Bromide Treatment: New Methods of its Control. J. A. M. A. 88: 2013. June 25, 1927. CrossrefGoogle Scholar(8) LENNOXWRIGHT WGLH: Comparative Effects of Borotartrate and of Luminal in Seizures of Epilepsy. Dec. 23, 1926. Bost. Med. and Surg. Journ. 195: 1195. CrossrefGoogle Scholar(9) CUNEO G: Studi sulla patogenes dell epilessia. La genesi dell' albumosoluria epilettica a la digestione intestinale dell proteine, degli idrati di Carbonio e dei grassi. Note e riv. di. psichiat. 14: 381, Sept.-Dec. 1926. Google Scholar(10) CONKLIN HW: The Cause and Treatment of Epilepsy. J. Am. Osteo. Ass'n. 22: 11. Sept. 1922. Google Scholar(11) GEYELIN HR: Fasting as a Method of Treating Epilepsy. Med. Rec. 99: 1037. June 11, 1921. Google Scholar(12) LENNOXCOBB WGS: Studies in Epilepsy, viii- The Clinical Effect of Fasting. Arch. Neurol. and Psychiat. 20: 771. Oct. 1928. CrossrefGoogle Scholar(13) WILDER RM: The Effect of Ketonuria on the Course of Epilepsy. Bull. Mayo Clinic 2: 307. 1921. Google Scholar(14) TALBOTMETCALFMORIARTY JFKMM: Epilepsy—Chemical Investigations of Rational Treatment by Production of Ketosis. Am. J. Dis. Child. 33: 218. Feb. 1927. KOHN, J. L., FRIES, M. E. AND FELSHIN, G.: Spontaneous and Induced Ketosis in Children. Effect on the Glucose Tolerance Test. Arch. Dis. Child. 34: 857. Nov. 1927. SHAW, E. B. AND MORIARTY, M.: Hypoglycemia and Acidosis in Fasting Children with Idiopathic Epilepsy. Arch. Dis. Child. 28: 553. Nov. 1924. HOEFFE, G. AND MORIARTY, M.: The Effect of Fasting on the Metabolism of Epileptic Children. Arch. Dis. Child. 28: 16. July, 1924. LENNOX, W. G.: Increase of Uric Acid in the Blood During Prolonged Starvation. J. A. M. A. 82: 602. Feb. 23, 1924. CrossrefGoogle Scholar(15) PETERMAN MG: The Ketogenic Diet. J. A. M. A. 90: 1427. May 5, 1928. CrossrefGoogle Scholar(16) BARBORKA CJ: The Ketogenic Diet Treatment of Epilepsy in Adults. J. A. M. A. 91: 73. July 14, 1928. CrossrefGoogle Scholar(17) See footnote 14. Google Scholar(18) HELMHOLTZ HF: The Treatment of Epilepsy in Childhood. J. A. M. A. 88: 2028. June 25, 1927. CrossrefGoogle Scholar(19) MCQUARRIEKEITH JHM: Epilepsy in Children. Relationship of Variations in the Degree of Ketonuria to Occurrence of Convulsions in Children on Ketogenic Diets. Arch. Dis. Child. 34: 1013. Dec. 1927. CrossrefGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: WILLIAM A. SMITH, M.D.Affiliations: Atlanta, Georgia*Read at the Fulton County Medical Society, Atlanta, Ga. February 21, 1929. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byHistory and Origin of the Ketogenic Diet 1 June 1929Volume 2, Issue 12Page: 1300-1308KeywordsDietEpilepsyEpileptic seizuresLoss of consciousnessMigraineNervous systemVertigo ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 June 1929 PDF downloadLoading ...