Six cases of psychotic episodes are described which in some way or another resemble petit mal status, but differ from it in their time courses and in exhibiting focal epileptic discharge besides the bilateral synchronous EEG pattern. These cases are compared with 6 cases more consistent with Lennox’s notion [1960] of petit mal status. Consideration of our own and similar cases from the literature and certain experimental findings lead to the following conclusions: (1) There is no doubt that the bilateral synchronous EEG potentials during so-called ‘centrencephalic’ petit mal status give but a gross and distorted view of the complex electric processes going on in the brain. The existence of different epileptic discharges arising in different brain areas and often mingling into each other is highly probable. (2) In accordance with current neurophysiological theories, the existence of inhibitive processes occurring simultaneously with the various epileptic discharges is accepted. Thus widespread systems of collaborating neurons are left functionally intact. (3) A correlation of level of consciousness with the volumes and locations of involved neurons versus functionally intact neurons is suggested. (4) Evidence for the assumption of epileptic discharge in pararhinal structures during psychotic episodes, often associated with ‘forced normalization’, although not conclusive, must be taken into consideration. (5) Further study of atypical petit mal status might give more detailed information about these questions.

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SUMMARY Two cats with epileptogenic lesions of the right fornix developed seizures and status epilepticus. After a single injection of parenteral Nembutal®, seizure activity ceased and did not recur. These animals subsequently behaved essentially normally, and their EEG's showed no significant epileptic alterations. Histological examination revealed epileptogenic lesions in the right fornix with degeneration of the ipsilateral limbic system. Possible pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying the spontaneous cure of chronic epilepsy are discussed. It appears likely that intense metabolic activity in epileptic structures during status epilepticus led to hypoxic necrosis of the hemi‐limbic system. RÉSUMÉ Les lésions épileptogàenes du fornix droit ont entraîne chez deux chats des crises et un état de mal epileptique. Apràes une seule injection intrapéritonéale de Nembutal ®ľactivité paroxystique a cessé et ne s'est plus reproduite. Par la suite ces animaux se sont comportés de façon normale et leurs EEG's ne présentment pas ďaltérations épileptiques caractéristiques. Les contrôles histologiques ont révéléľexistence de lésions dans le fornix avec dégénérescence du systàeme limbique ipsilatéral. Les mécanismes physiopathologiques susceptibles ďexpliquer la guérison spontanée ďune épilepsie chronique sont discutes. II semble probable qu'une activité métabolique intense dans les structures impliquées dans ľétat de mal épileptique, conduise àa une nécrose hypoxique ďune moitié du systàeme limbique.

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Contents: Creativity/'Audible thoughts' and ‘¿ speech defects' in schizophretha/Clozapine-induced hyper salivation and the alpha-2 adrenoceptorflnfiuences On cost-effectiveness/Cytochromea and psychotropic