“…1 Reports in the literature have discussed the usefulness of steroid therapy in the treatment of acute and subacute "strokes." In 1955, Sheely et al 2 reported on the beneficial effect of cortisone and hydrocortisone in two patients with acute cerebral infarction and in four patients with residual spastic hemiparesis. Russek et al 3 reported "dramatic clinical improvement" in 21 patients with acute stroke due to cerebral thrombosis or embolism who were treated with cortisone therapy.…”