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Experiments on the Restoration of Paralysed Muscles by means 

 of Nerve Anastomosis* 

 By Robert Kennedy, M.A., M.D., D.Sc. 



(Communicated by Prof. J. G. McKendrick, F.R.S. Received April 3, — Read 

 June 1, 1911.) 



(Abstract.) 



Restoration of voluntary co-ordinated movements after "nerve crossing," 

 first demonstrated by Flourens, has since been from time to time tbe subject 

 of investigation. The conclusions of Flourens have been confirmed by Rawa, 

 Stefani, Howell and Huber, Langley, and myself. A practical application in 

 surgery was first suggested by Litievant, and within the past 12 years 

 considerable development has taken place in this direction. 



During the past two years I have performed about 30 experiments on 

 monkeys and dogs in order to investigate several points from the physiological 

 standpoint. These experiments fall naturally into three groups. The first 

 deals with the methods of cross union or anastomosis between the peripheral 

 segment of a divided facial nerve and a suitable motor nerve in the 

 neighbourhood. The second series of experiments deals with anastomosis in 

 the fore limb of dogs, in order to investigate some aspects of the question not 

 overtaken by previous work on this part of the subject. The third series 

 deals with the brachial plexus, its functions, and the methods of anastomosis 

 applied to it. 



The present communication is confined to an account of experiments with 

 the facial nerve, of which there have been 10 performed. Of these 10, 6 were 

 primary anastomosis and 4 secondary anastomosis, that is to say, in 6 the 

 facial was cut, and its peripheral segment immediately anastomosed with the 

 central segment of the substitute nerve, while in 4 the facial was cut, and 

 left unattached for a period, precautions to prevent spontaneous reunion 

 being taken, and then at the end of that period re-exposed, and united to the 

 substitute nerve. 



Primary Anastomosis. 

 In the primary anastomoses, two were in monkeys and four in dogs. Of 

 the two monkeys, in one the facial was cut and attached to the side of the 

 spinal accessory, and in the other it was attached to the side of the 

 hypoglossal nerve. Voluntary dissociated movements of the face commenced 



* The expense of this research has been defrayed by a Government Grant from the 

 Royal Society. 



