The  term  "saltatoric  spasm"  is  applied  to  a  rare  form  of  clonic  spasm  in
the  legs,  which  comes  on  when  the  patient  attempts  to  stand,  and  causes
springing  or  jumping  movements,  whence  the  name.*  It  was  first  described
by  Bamberger,  in  1859,  and  only  a  few  cases  have  been  recorded. f  The
affection  occurs  in  both  sexes,  and  seems  to  be  rather  more  frequent  in  males
than  in  females. The  ages  of  the  sufferers  have  varied  between  ten  and
seventy  years. In  some  there  has  been  a  history  of  previous  functional  nerve
disturbance,  epilepsy,  hysteria,  etc.,  and  in  most  the  onset  has  been  preceded
by  influences,  physical  or  othe,r,  depressing  the  nervous  system. Immediate
exciting  causes  have  not,  as  a  rule,  been  traceable. In  a  few  there  have  been
premonitory  symptoms,  slight  tremor,  stiffness,  or  a  feeling  of  stiffness,  in
the  legs. In  one  instance  the  spasm  followed  a  convulsive  seizure. The
actual  onset  has  generally  been  sudden. The  symptoms  consist  of  alternat-
ing contractions  in  the  flexors  and  extensors  of  the  legs,  following  each  other
with  great  rapidity,  and  causing  jumping  movements  of  such  violence  that
the  feet  may  leave  the  floor  at  each  spasm,  and  the  patient  is  thrown  to  the
ground  unless  supported. In  some  cases  the  spasm  has  been  slighter,  and
only  the  heels  have  been  raised  from  the  floor. The  spring  is  the  result  of
spasm,  not  only  in  the  calf  muscles,  but  also  in  those  of  the  hip  and  knee
joints,  while  in  many  instances  the  muscles  of  the  back  have  also  contracted
and  have  caused  a  backward  inclination  of  the  trunk. This  peculiar  spasm
occurs  only  on  an  attempt  to  stand;  as  the  patient  sits  or  lies  down  the  mus-

a  stranger ;  he  would  stoop  for  a  moment,  bend  the  head  as  if  in  expectancy,  and  then  the
violent  movement  occurred. Over  the  slighter  movements  he  had  some  control,  so  that  by  a
great  effort  he  could  open  the  eyes ;  the  eyeballs  were  usually  directed  to  the  right,  but  he
could  slowly  turn  them  in  any  direction. So  violent  were  the  paroxysms  on  an  attempt  to
speak,  that  for  weeks  he  never  uttered  a  word. He  could,  however,  write  fairly  well,  with
occasional,  interruptions  from  the  spasm. The  man's  history  showed  no  cause,  immediate  or
remote,  for  the  affection,  which  had  commenced  gradually  six  months  before. 