90 [May 15, 



Duration of appli- Temperature Cent. Temperature Cent, 

 cation of refrige- between ring and little between index and 

 rating mixture. fingers at roots. median fingers at roots. 

 Minutes. 

 27 27'8 30-1 



29 26-6 29 : 1 



33 ....... 26-4 28-5 



35 27'5 29-0 



37 29-2 28-8 



40 . .... 30-5 28-0 



44 31-2 27'5 



46 32-5 27-0 



47'5 33-5 26-6 



50 33-5 26-0 



52 33-8 26-0 



At this time the freezing mixture was removed. 

 In the course of the application the following results were ob- 

 served : 



Soon after the application of the freezing mixture, the nerve began 

 to be painful from the elbow downwards ; after twenty-seven minutes' 

 application the little finger was already somewhat paralysed and in- 

 sensible. When the nerve was compressed or vibrated, it was found 

 to be very sensitive and tender, and its excitability much increased*. 

 After thirty-two minutes the symptoms were 

 1st. Paralysis of the movements of the little finger almost com- 

 plete. 



2nd. A state of semi-flexion of all the fingers, diminishing from 

 the little one outwards, so that they could not be straightened com- 

 pletely by the extensor muscles. 



3rd. Great weakness in all the fingers and thumb, so that great 

 difficulty was experienced in grasping or holding any object. 



4th. Complete loss of the power of abduction and adduction of 

 the fingers, so that when they were extended as far as possible they 



* I apply the term " vibration of a nerve " to the act of pushing it aside with 

 the tips of the fingers so as to render it tense, and then suddenly removing them. 

 By so doing a sound is generally produced by the nerve, as by a vibrating cord. 

 This little operation causes a slight degree of pain, sufficient to enable us to judge 

 of the degree of sensibility of the nerve. It likewise causes slight movements of 

 the last finger from: muscular contraction, sufficient to indicate the degree of ex- 

 citability of the nerve. For further account see my paper on the subject of irri- 

 tation of the ulnar nerve, &c. in the Medical Gazette.' 



