Titubation in hereditary ataxia.

"AS THE DISEASE progresses some jerky irregularity develops in the movement of the neck and head so that the head presents slight movements, sometimes like an irregular tremor, sometimes simulating chorea". This is how Gowers in 1899 described the occurrence of titubation in hereditary ataxy in his book on the diseases of the nervous system. But this feature of hereditary ataxia seems to have received scant attention in recent textbooks. Two siblings of a family are reported here to stress the fact that titubation may be a predominant feature of this condition. One had also a persistent tachycardia, a normal glucose tolerance test (g.t.t.) and normal peripheral nerve conduction whereas her brother (Case 1) had an abnormal g.t.t. and impaired nerve conduction.