Optic Neuromyelitis

Optic neuromyelitis is a rare disease, known for only twenty-five years. A little over fifty cases are cited in the literature, only five of which are recorded in English. The first anatomic-pathologic description was given in 1889 by Achard and Guineau, although a few cases were reported previously by other authors. Devich, in 1894, gave the disease its name; other cases were afterward published by Katz, Brissaud and Rochon-Duvigneaud and by Hilion, who in his thesis reported forty-five cases. Complete histopathologic examinations were recorded in sixteen of the twenty-four fatal cases. Later came the observations of Hoffman, Cobledick, Miashita, Goulden, Holden, Jendralski, Dolffus, Strumpell, Dreschfeld, Raverdino, von Gehuchten, Bouchut, Dechanne and Bogaert. A good recent summary of the subject is that of Salvati. COURSE AND SYMPTOMATOLOGY Clinically, the disease is one of bilateral optic neuritis, acute or subacute, followed in a variable length of time by myelitis. Occasionally