[Christiane vs. Goethe's final illness].

This paper deals with the diseases of Christiane, Goethe's wife, during the period of their marriage (1806-1816). Recurrent stomach complaints, due perhaps to gastro-duodenitis or an ulcer, were, it is suggested, of psychosomatic origin. They might have resulted from an intrinsic conflict between Christiane's unsatisfied desire for nearness and Goethe's absolute insistence on periods of distance and seclusion for the sake of his creative work.

[Chronic progressive spinobulbar spasticity (primary lateral sclerosis)].

This paper presents an account of chronic-progressive Spinobulbar Spasticity (SBS) or Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS), a rare syndrome involving degeneration of the upper motoneuron, on the basis of 6 clinically examined cases. Individuals of both sexes can be affected. Onset of the syndrome occurs around the age of 54, but may sometimes be before 50.

Evidence of myotonic origin of type 2B muscle fibre deficiency in myotonia and paramyotonia congenita.

Available experimental and clinical evidence strongly suggests that deficiency in type 2B muscle fibres in generalized myotonia and paramyotonia congenita will develop consequent to lasting myotonic activity as its adequate stimulus. Type 2B fibre deficiency need not be regarded as the product of a hypothetical genetic factor.

Type 2B muscle fibre deficiency in myotonia and paramyotonia congenita. A genetically determined histochemical fibre type pattern?

The histochemical ATPase fibre type pattern was examined in muscle biopsy samples obtained from patients with recessive myotonia, paramyotonia and from one patient with dominant myotonia. Absence (less than or equal to 5%) of 2B fibres was a genuine finding in the minority of the cases. In additional cases of recessive myotonia, a deficiency (less than or equal to 15%) of 2B fibres was observed.