692 DR ROBERT KENNEDY ON THE 



correctly plantar surface down, readjusting it when it turned over, as it occasionally 

 did, by the toes scraping the ground. 



Improvement in walking advanced day by day, the foot turning over on to the dorsal 

 surface less and less, until, when examined at the end of the twenty-first day, the 

 animal constantly walked on the leg, always placing the plantar surface down, and 

 supporting the entire weight of the hind part of the body on the affected leg, when the 

 sound hind leg was held up. Sensation was now returning, as, when the portion of 

 the paw formerly insensitive was pricked with a needle, the animal withdrew the limb. 



At the thirtieth day the complete recovery of the use of the leg was maintained, 

 and the muscles were much increased in bulk. The dog was therefore killed, and the 

 seat of section exposed. The nerve was found reunited, the seat of reunion presenting 

 a slight swelling on the central and peripheral ends, united by a short segment having 

 the diameter of the normal nerve. The torsion given at the operation was clearly 

 visible, and stimulation of the nerve above and below the seat of reunion caused 

 contractions of the muscles. 



Experiment III. — On 13th April 1898, a collie bitch, aged 6 months, was 

 anaesthetised by a hypodermic injection of 0'4 gram, sulphate of morphia, followed by 

 inhalation of chloroform. The same antiseptic precautions as before having been taken, 

 the left sciatic nerve was exposed at the level of the trochanter, divided, and accurately 

 reunited in the normal position with carbolised catgut. The accuracy of adjustment 

 was secured by placing the suture before the division, the suture having been carried 

 through the nerve at two points, 0"5 cm. apart, passing in opposite directions. After 

 section, therefore, the tying of the catgut suture brought the two ends together as 

 nearly as possible in their normal relationship to each other. The limb was then 

 immobilised in the same manner as in the other experiments. 



On the following day sensation tested in the paw was found to be absent, except 

 over the area supplied by the saphenous nerve. 



On the third day the animal was walking on the splint, but dragging the paw 

 along dorsal surface down. 



This condition lasted till the seventh day, when the animal was found to walk with 

 the plantar surface down. The paw, however, frequently turned over with the dorsal 

 surface down, and was then dragged, and did so till the foot was passively again 

 placed in the normal position, the animal apparently having no voluntary power to 

 readjust it. 



On the eighth day the plaster of Paris splint was removed, and the animal was 

 found to be able to use the leg for walking, not, however, resting its full weight on it. 

 It walked with the plantar surface down, but frequently the paw turned back on the 

 dorsal surface, but now the animal had regained sufficient power to enable it to 

 voluntarily readjust the abnormal position. The wound was found quite healed, and 

 the stitches were removed. There was no return of sensation as far as could be 

 ascertained. 



