RESTORATION OF CO-ORDINATED MOVEMENTS AFTER NERVE SECTION. 691 



neuroma. The animal was then killed while still under the influence of the anaesthetic, 

 and various portions of the reunited nerve removed for microscopic examination. 



On excising a segment, including the seat of reunion, the proximal and distal 

 transverse sections exposed showed that the nerve at this level consisted mainly of two 

 fasciculi, one large and the other small. On comparing the proximal and distal ends of 

 the segment, it was ascertained that the position of the large fasciculus exposed at the 

 one end corresponded with the position of the small bundle exposed at the other end, 

 and vice versa, thus proving that the nerve had reunited in the position which was given 

 it at the operation. 



Experiment II. — On 13th April 1898, a collie bitch, aged 1 year, having been 

 anaesthetised by means of a hypodermic injection of 0"5 gram, sulphate of morphia, 

 followed by inhalation of ether and chloroform, and the same antiseptic precautions 

 having been taken as before, the same operative procedure was carried out as in the 

 case of Experiment L, i.e., the left sciatic nerve was divided at the level of the 

 trochanter, and the ends sutured together with carbolised catgut, with the central and 

 peripheral segments rotated on their long axes in opposite directions, with reference to 

 each other to the extent of a semicircle. The fascia and skin were separately sutured, 

 and the hip, knee, and ankle joints immobilised by means of plaster of Paris 

 bandages. 



On the following day the animal was making no attempt to walk on the splint. 

 There was no sign given of sensation on pricking the paw with a needle, except over 

 the small area on the inner aspect of the paw from twigs of the saphenous nerve. The 

 paw was now fixed with a figure-of-eight bandage to keep the foot from being turned 

 over with the dorsal surface down, and thus becoming abraded in the event of the 

 animal making attempts to walk. 



At the end of the second day the dog was sitting up resting on the splint. When 

 pulled along by its collar it walked on the splint, but dragged the paw along the ground 

 dorsal surface down. 



On the following day the animal was walking freely about, but when the foot was 

 unsupported by the bandage, it always was dragged dorsal surface down. 



This state lasted till the end of the seventh day, when it was found that, while no 

 evidence of returning sensation could be obtained, the animal had now regained some 

 use of the leg, as it walked well, and with the paw left unsupported, placed it correctly 

 plantar surface down on the ground. Occasionally, the toes catching on the ground, the 

 paw was turned over and rested on the dorsal surface, but after being scraped along the 

 ground in this position for two or three steps, was again voluntarily replaced in the 

 correct position. 



At the eighth day the plaster of Paris splint was removed, and the wound was 

 found completely healed, and the stitches were removed. The leg was somewhat 

 atrophied, but there was no other trophic change. The animal used the leg in walking, 

 not, however, resting its whole weight on the limb, but as a rule it placed the paw 



