NYSTAGMIC HEAD DEVIATION, A SELECTIVE ACTION OF AN ALIPHATIC BROMINE COMPOUND

¹ From the Department of Laboratories, The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York

1. Spontaneous head and body nystagmus, a phenomenon consisting of a periodic tonic deviation and intercurrent rapid retrogradation, is described as a pharmacological action of monobromobutyryl urea.

2. The phenomenon can be produced only in the albino mouse (species selectivity). For long periods of observation it is the only perceptible manifestation (pharmacological selectivity).

3. A series of chemically related substances was examined comparatively. None of them was found capable of producing the nystagmus phenomenon (chemical selectivity).

4. A number of drugs were found capable of exerting an antagonistic or synergistic influence upon the nystagmus phenomenon.

5. From comparing the particulars of the nystagmus response to bromobutyryl urea with the particulars of the next related physiological postural reaction, i.e. the nystagmic rotation reflexes, it is concluded that a high central apparatus for postural tonus is the locus of attack of the drug.