romberg's sign he described as: ""the gait begins to be insecure... he puts down his feet with greater force...the individual keeps his eyes on his feet to prevent his movements from becoming still more unsteady. if he is ordered to close his eyes while in the erect posture, he at once commences to totter and swing from side to side; the insecurity of his gait also exhibits itself more in the dark."" romberg had not observed this in other paralyses.