ABSTRACT
During the decades after the publication of James Parkinson’s seminal article,1 the definition of paralysis agitans was debated, discussed, and further refined through observations and publications in the medical community. This process, common to all newly described disease entities, clarified the essential clinical features of paralysis agitans, the treatment of this disorder, and the pathology underlying the syndrome. Historically, progress in understanding Dr. Parkinson’s namesake was not without misunderstandings and confusion before a more distinct and accurate picture of this disease developed.
