472 Dr. R. Kennedy. 



" On the Regeneration of Nerves." By ROBERT KENNEDY, 

 M.A., B.Sc., M.D., Glasgow. Communicated by Professor 

 McKENDRiCK, F.R.S. Received January 7, Read February 

 11, 1897. 



(Abstract.) 



The author treats the subject under the following heads : 



I. A short historical and critical review of the books and papers 



which have appeared on the subject from the time of Cruik- 

 shank (1776). 



II. Clinical reports of four cases of secondary suture of nerves as 



follows : 



1. Suture of the median and ulnar nerves six and a half months 

 after division in the middle of the forearm. There was total loss of 

 sensation and motion in the distribution in the hand, and marked 

 atrophic changes. Three days after the operation, sensation com- 

 menced to return ; by the nineteenth day, touch was correctly localised 

 on all parts of the fingers ; and by the end of the first month, sensa- 

 tion was almost perfect. Improvement in motion was slow and 

 imperfect. 



2. Suture of the median three months after complete division 

 above the wrist. Sensation was lost in the median distribution, and 

 opposition of the thumb was impossible. There was marked 

 atrophy of the thenar eminence. Two days after the operation, 

 sensation commenced to return. Both sensation and motion speedily 

 improved, and by the end of a year recovery was almost perfect. 



3. A case in which the median, musculo-spiral, and ulnar were 

 involved in cicatricial tissue at the seat of fracture at the elbow 

 joint ; excision of portions from median and musculo-spiral, and 

 suture, two months after accident. There was total anaesthesia in 

 the distribution of the affected nerves, and paralysis of the muscles. 

 Sensation, after the operation, commenced to return on the fourth 

 morning, but made slow progress. The case was under observation 

 for six weeks only, at which time no improvement had occurred in 

 motion, but sensation was present in the fingers. 



4. Suture of the ulnar nerve eighteen months after division. 

 Sense of pain was totally lost in the ulnar distribution. Five days 

 after the operation, sense of pain returned in the little finger, and by 

 six weeks, sensation was almost perfect, although motion had not 

 improved. 



III. Deductions from the results of operation. 



From the above results the author concludes that the early return 



