n.a sexually transmitted disease that causes a wasting away of the spinal
cord marked by
loss of
control over
walking and other movements. (Locomotor means pertaining to or affecting locomotion, the
power of moving from
place to
place. Ataxia is
loss of
coordination of the muscles, especially of the
extremities.) One of the first
manifestations of this disease is
shooting pains in the legs; this is followed by
loss of certain reflexes and worsening muscular
coordination causing a spasmodic, uneven
walk. Victims eventually become unable to sense
pain and may
lose all feeling in the arms and legs, as well as sensibility to temperature. If untreated, the disease usually makes it impossible for a person to
walk without assistance and causes severe debilitation.
degenerative disease of the spinal
cord marked by
loss of
control over
walking and certain other voluntary movements, and severe pains in the internal organs.