Ixxx Journal of Comparative Neurology. 



in both sides, even when in the left side it is only transitory ; (2), if 

 by the stretching of the right sciatic the limb on this side is rendered 

 anesthetic, sensibility returns if the left sciatic be operated on, (phe- 

 nomenon of nervous transfer discovered by Quinquand.) On the 

 other hand, Brown-Sequard showed that the right lateral hemisection 

 of the cord produces an anesthesia in the left leg and a hyperesthe- 

 sia in the right. Now, the stretching of the left iciatic caused the lost 

 sensibility to reappear. 



These observations of experimental physiology demonstrate plain- 

 ly the influence that the stretching of the nerve has upon their centers 

 of origin, and are corroborated by the anatomical lesions observed in 

 cases ot unsuccessful stretching. 



In 421 observations that have been published, 42 complications 

 are mentioned, that is to say, 10 per cent. Among these complica- 

 tions are epileptiform attacks, myelites, hemorrhagic myelites, puru- 

 lent cystitis, paralysis of the rectum. In one case of miliary sclerosis 

 nerve stretching was speedily followed by death. Paralysis of the 

 parts supplied may follow. Trophic disturbances are very common 

 results. These results plainly indicate that nerve stretching is much 

 more dangerous when spinal affections exist. In 89 cases of opera- 

 tion upon mixed nerves all but 8 cases evidenced some improvement 

 and in most more or less prominent cures resulted. Its nonsurgical 

 application, in the leg, for example, is very simple. 



The author concludes with a description of five cases in which 

 surgical stretching was employed with success upon patients suffering 

 from traumatic lesions of the nerves of the leg as a result of wounds 

 recived in the late Chilian war. One of these is illustrative of all. 

 The patient was wounded at La Placilla by a projectile which pene- 

 trated behind the trocanter, 6 centimetres from its vertex, and 

 after traversing the rear portion of the member went out 14 centime- 

 tres from the genito-crural crease in the rear-inner part of the thigh. 

 After reciving the wound he suffered very acute pains that spread to 

 all the lower limb and absolutely hindered his walking ; in this condi- 

 tion he spent two months at Valparaiso, where his wounds were at- 

 tended to, healing in 15 days, but without relief of his pains; mor- 

 phine alone afforded him some relief. Transferred to Santiago, he 

 was placed, Nov. 9, under the attendance of Dr. San Cristobal, in 

 San Vicente Hospital. 



The patient can execute with his leg all movements and preserves 

 his muscular power, but suffers constant pains with very intense ex- 

 acerbations, completely hindering his walking ; at the local examina- 



