ALCOHOLIC NEURITIS
Authors: W F GORMAN
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1952)

Article1 September 1952ALCOHOLIC NEURITISWARREN F. GORMANWARREN F. GORMANSearch for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-37-3-566 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptThe purpose of this article is to describe alcoholic neuritis briefly from a clinical, physiologic and therapeutic point of view.Alcoholic neuritis is a term that has been used to describe the neuropathy which appears in alcoholics. Neuritis, or inflammation of a nerve, is not present in this condition; hence the term neuropathy, connoting disease of a nerve, is preferable.49, 23Further, the neuropathy is not directly due to alcohol but is caused by the nutritional deficiencies which may accompany alcoholism.16, 19An alcoholic may be defined as a person who is disabled or diseased by the excessive use of...Bibliography1. AgnerHookVon Porat KOB: Treatment of methyl alcohol poisoning with ethanol, Quart. J. Stud. on Alcohol 9: 515, 1949. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. AringBeanRosemanRosenbaumSpies CDWBEMTD: The peripheral nerves in cases of nutritional deficiency, Arch. Neurol. and Psychiat. 45: 772, 1941. CrossrefGoogle Scholar3. BeazealeIvy JMAC: Influence of alcohol on digestive tract, Quart. J. Stud. on Alcohol 1: 45, 1940. CrossrefGoogle Scholar4. Bender L: Myelopathia alcoholia, Arch. Neurol. and Psychiat. 31: 310, 1934. CrossrefGoogle Scholar5. BenderGorman MBWF: Vertical nystagmus and oscillopsia, Am. J. Ophth. 32: 967, 1949. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. BenderSchilder LP: Encephalopathia alcoholia, Arch. Neurol. and Psychiat. 29: 990, 1933. CrossrefGoogle Scholar7. BethellSwendseidMyersNelighRichards FHMEMCRBHG: Hog duodenal mucosa potentiating B12 oral therapy, Univ. Hosp. Bull., Ann Arbor, Michigan 15: 49, 1949. MedlineGoogle Scholar8. BigelowHarrisonGoodellWolff NJHHG: Studies on pain with reference to peripheral neuritis, J. Clin. Investigation 24: 503, 1945. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9. Bowman KM: in The practitioner's library of medicine and surgery, Vol. IX, 1936, D. Appleton Century Co., New York, p. 365. Google Scholar10. BowmanJellinek KMEM: Alcoholic mental disorders, Quart. J. Stud. on Alcohol 2: 312, 1941. CrossrefGoogle Scholar11. Culver PJ: Vitamin supplementation in health and disease, New England J. Med. 241: 970, 1051, 1950. CrossrefGoogle Scholar12. Denny-BrownBrenner DC: Lesions in peripheral nerves resulting from compression by a spring clip, Arch. Neurol. and Psychiat. 52: 1, 1944. CrossrefGoogle Scholar13. Denny-BrownBrenner DC: Paralysis of nerve induced by direct pressure and by tourniquet, Arch. Neurol. and Psychiat. 51: 1, 1944. CrossrefGoogle Scholar14. Gasser H: Pain producing impulses in peripheral nerves, Proc. A. Research Nerv. and Ment. Dis. 23: 44, 1943. Google Scholar15. Gasser H: Control of excitation in the nervous system, Harvey Lectures, 1937, Williams & Wilkins Co., Baltimore, p. 169. Google Scholar16. Gildea EF: in The practitioner's library of medicine and surgery, vol. IX, 1936, D. Appleton Century & Co., New York, p. 424. Google Scholar17. GildeaKattwinkelCastle EFEEWB: Experimental combined system disease, New England J. Med. 202: 523, 1930. CrossrefGoogle Scholar18. GordonWhitteridge GD: Conduction time for human pain sensation, Lancet 2: 700, 1943. CrossrefGoogle Scholar19. Gorman WF: Alcoholic neuropsychiatric syndromes, Interne 6: 152, 1949. Google Scholar20. GormanStearnsWortis WFESB: The electroencephalogram in Korsakoff syndrome, Am. J. Psychiat. 107: 20, 1950. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar21. GreenfieldCarmichael JGEA: The peripheral nerves in cases of subacute continued degeneration of cord, Brain 58: 483, 1935. CrossrefGoogle Scholar22. Grinker RR: Some experiences with jake paralysis, Arch. Neurol. and Psychiat. 25: 649, 1949. Google Scholar23. GrinkerBucy RRP: Neurology, 1949, C. C. Thomas, Springfield, Illinois, p. 106. Google Scholar24. HallCampbell BFDC: Pernicious anemia patient responding to vitamin B12 and normal human gastric juice, orally, Proc. Staff. Meet., Mayo Clin. 23: 584, 1948. MedlineGoogle Scholar25. HarveyHowardMurphy EAIWP: Absence of toxic effect of folic acid on central nervous system of persons with pernicious anemia, New England J. Med. 242: 446, 1950. CrossrefGoogle Scholar26. JellinekJolliffe EMN: Effects of alcohol on the individual, Quart. J. Stud. on Alcohol 1: 110, 1940. CrossrefGoogle Scholar27. Jolliffe N: Effects of vitamin deficiency on mental and emotional processes, Proc. A. Research Nerv. and Ment. Dis. 19: 144, 1939. Google Scholar28. JolliffeWortisFein NHD: The Wernicke syndrome, Arch. Neurol. and Psychiat. 46: 569, 1941. CrossrefGoogle Scholar29. Korsakow SS: Ueber die alhohol Lähming (Russian), Moskau, 1887. Google Scholar30. Korsakow SS: Ueber eine besondere Form psychischer Störung kombiniert mit multipler Neuritis, Arch. f. Psychiat. u. Neurol. 21: 669, 1890. CrossrefGoogle Scholar31. MooreRaymondGray MAFMG: Drugs and mental disease, Confinia neurol. 4: 238, 1941. CrossrefGoogle Scholar32. MooreSohlerAlexander MTL: Bromide intoxication, Confinia neurol. 3: 1, 1940. CrossrefGoogle Scholar33. Nyswander M: Withdrawal treatment of drug addiction, New England J. Med. 242: 128, 1950. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar34. RosenbaumMerritt MHH: Korsakoff syndrome, Arch. Neurol. and Psychiat. 41: 978, 1939. CrossrefGoogle Scholar35. Smith JJ: Proceedings of the First Clinical ACTH Conference, 1950, Blakiston & Co., Philadelphia. Google Scholar36. Smith JJ: Medical approach to problem drinking, Quart. J. Stud. on Alcohol 10: 251, 1949. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar37. SpiesGarcia LopezMilanesLopez TocaAramburu TDGFRT: A note on the oral versus parenteral administration of vitamin B12 , South. M. J. 42: 528, 1949. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar38. TinteraLovell JWHW: Endocrine treatment for alcoholism, Geriatrics 4: 274, 1949. MedlineGoogle Scholar39. Walker JT: Toxicology, New England J. Med. 242: 57, 1950. CrossrefGoogle Scholar40. Wartenberg R: Examination of reflexes, 1945, Year Book Publishers, Chicago, pp. 127, 128. Google Scholar41. Wechsler D: in Wechsler, I. S.: Textbook of clinical neurology, 1943, W. B. Saunders & Co., Philadelphia, p. 204. Google Scholar42. WeddellSinclair GDC: Pins and needles, J. Neurol., Neurosurg. and Psychiat. 10: 26, 1947. CrossrefGoogle Scholar43. Wernicke C: Lehrbuch des Gehirnkrankheiten, vol. 2, 1881, T. Fischer, Berlin, p. 229. Google Scholar44. Wilson SA: Neurology, 1941, Williams & Wilkins Co., Baltimore, p. 700. Google Scholar45. WortisJolliffeSteinBueding HNMHEH: Studies in Wernicke's syndrome, Tr. Am. Neurol. A. 67: 115, 1941. Google Scholar46. WortisPfeffer SBAZ: The management of alcoholism, Veterans Adm. Technical Bulletin, 10-67 Oct. 31, 1950. Google Scholar47. WortisSteinJolliffe HMHN: Fiber dissociation in peripheral neuropathy, Arch. Int. Med. 69: 222, 1942. CrossrefGoogle Scholar48. WortisWortisMarsh HSBFI: Vitamin studies in alcoholics, Am. J. Psychiat. 94: 891, 1938. CrossrefGoogle Scholar49. Zimmerman HM: Newer aspects of nervous disease in avitaminosis, Confinia neurol. 1: 6, 1938. CrossrefGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: New York, N. Y.*Received for publication August 17, 1951. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byPSYCHIATRIC-MEDICAL MANAGEMENTNutrition and Alcoholism—A Review 1 September 1952Volume 37, Issue 3Page: 566-573KeywordsAlcoholicsAlcoholsInflammationMalnutritionNervesNeuropathy Issue Published: 1 September 1952 PDF downloadLoading ...