640 Proceedings of Royal Society of Edinburgh. [sess. 
restoration of conductivity and of voluntary function may be 
effected in a few days. 
2nd. That this early restoration of conductivity need not he the 
result of reunion of the old nerve fibres, i.e., reunion by so-called 
first intention, or without Wallerian degeneration, but may be the 
result of regeneration of young nerve fibres in the peripheral 
segment. 
3rd. That voluntary co-ordinated movements are regained 
equally soon, whether the two ends of the divided nerve are 
united as accurately as possible, so as to bring the corresponding 
ends of the nerve fibres into contact as nearly as possible, or 
whether, previous to reunion, the peripheral segment is twisted so 
that, when united to the central segment, non-corresponding ends 
of the nerve fibres are brought into contact. 
4th. That in the latter case the microscopic examination of 
the seat of reunion leaves it doubtful whether the restoration 
of function is due to the re-establishment of the old paths by 
decussation in the nerve cicatrix, or to the reunion of ends of 
nerve fibres which do not correspond, but which happen to be 
brought into apposition. 
5th. That in suturing a divided nerve no trouble need be taken 
to secure that coaptation of the two segments is effected in the 
old relationship, the simple approximation of the two ends, no 
matter in what relationship, being all that is required. 
