On the restoration of co-ordinated movements after nerve-crossing, with interchange of function of the cerebral cortical centres / by Robert Kennedy.
- Kennedy, Robert, -1924.
- Date:
- 1901
Licence: In copyright
Credit: On the restoration of co-ordinated movements after nerve-crossing, with interchange of function of the cerebral cortical centres / by Robert Kennedy. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.
17/46 (page 139)
![lOtli (lay, tliere was some yuH on tlie dressings, and the lower two stitclies had given way, hnt no pus exuded from the wound on pressure. The wound was cleansed and the lower part re-sutured, and a new plaster of Paris casing applied, and on removing this on the ] Dth day the wound was found soundly healed. The following was the course wliicli was run as far as return of function is concerned :— From tlie 1st till the 18th day tliere was ahsolutely no recovery of function. Although tlie limh was supported l)y the })laster casing, it was not allowed to touch the ground while tlie animal walked, but was held projecting downwards and back- wards. No test could elicit any evidence of return of sensation in the paw. ()n the 1 9tli day tlie plaster was removed, and the animal in walking anfl running occasionally mr)mentarily ])laced the ])almar sm'fice of the paw on the ground, at once withdrawing it and keeping it held up. On the 21st day it was fornid that the dog frequently })ut its weight in walking on the afltected leg, but it always turned over on the dorsal surface of the paw, and, iinding no support in this positif)n, tlie limb suddenly flexed at the radio-car])al articulation, and the animal landed on the end of the radius. This occurred occa- sionallv, but as a rule it kej)t the leg drawn uj) while walking or running. To keep the liml) in the normal position and prevent the development of contracture, and also to prevent further abrasion of the skin over the lower end of the radius, a plaster of Paris bandage was applied from the toes uj) to the middle of the radiiis. After immobilisation of the radio-carpal joint the animal commenced to use the leg in walking, and was soon doing so constantly; but this of course may liave been in large measure, if not entirelv, a passive movement. ()n the 2!Hh day the plaster was removed, and then tlie animal, as a rule, walked on the end of the radius witii the paw doubled back, this being tlie result of placing the dorsal surface of its paw down instead of its palmar surface. On a few occasions, however, it placed its palmar surface correctly, but this was so infrequent that it might have been accidental. The carpus w^as protected from iujury by a calico bandage, whicli also gave the joint some support. On the 30th day the foot was more frequently placed correctly on the palmar surface, and on the following day still more frequently, and at the 32nd day the animal walked and ran full speed, always placing the paw ^^■itll the palmar surface down. On this day there was, tlierefore, a complete return of co-ordinated move- ments as exhibited in walking and running, but the afl'ected nuiscles were evidently very weak. The animal, however, did not spare the leg, the result being that in a few days the muscles became so weak that it was unable to support the weight of its body on the limb. A short plaster splint Avas, therefore, again applied (35tli day) to immobilise only the radio-carpal joint, and to keep it extended. With this sujiport the animal used the leg perfectly, always placing the palmar surface down. On the 90tli day the splint, which had been removed and reapplied several times](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21456513_0017.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
