A STUDY OF THE HUMAN MYOGRAM. A STUDY OF NORMALS, AND OF PATIENTS WITH ADDISON'S DISEASE, THYROTOXICOSIS AND PROGRESSIVE MUSCULAR ATROPHY 1

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Abstract
A method of myography for humans similar to that used in animal expts. is described. Without anesthesia the ulnar nerve is stimulated electrically at the elbow by means of skin electrodes. The maximum contractions of the stimulated muscles is measured by an isotonic myograph and recorded on slowly moving paper by an ink writer. The normal myogram for just supramaximal stimuli of from 1/10 sees, to 16/sec. is described. Factors which vary the normal myogram are described. In patients with muscular weakness due to thyrotoxicosis and Addison''s disease there was an absence of potentiation of succeeding muscular contractions which is present in normal subjects. This change was returned to normal in patients with Addison''s disease by adequate treatment. Two patients with progressive muscular atrophy were also studied. They exhibited a marked variation in the strength of single muscular twitches. In one case there was a tendency for fusion of tetanus to occur at about 4/sec. stimulation frequencies. In normal subjects this was not observed until 8 or 16/sec. frequencies were used.

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