The classical ideas concerning the question of aphasia have recently become a subject for reconsideration through the efforts of Pierre Marie.1 The distinguished French neurologist, after a careful and conscientious study covering a period of several years, has endeavored to replace the old views on aphasia by a new and more simple conception. His contention is that the division of aphasia into a motor and sensory is no more tenable; that there is only one aphasia, namely: sensory aphasia, to which anarthria is sometimes added. Marie, therefore, does not recognize the motor aphasia of Broca with agraphia, but considers only total aphasias.
Since this somewhat startling announcement of Marie, made in 1906, a large number of anatomo-clinical observations on aphasia have been reported by competent observers, some corroborating and others denying the above view. In spite of the large material already accumulated the views differ widely. Indeed,