Excerpt from Canada Medical and Surgical Journal, Vol. 5: October, 1876

Dr. Drake-cut down upon the sciatic nerve at the posterior border of the gluteus maximus muscle, hooked out the nerve, seized it with a strong pair of vulsellum forceps and pulled it forcibly downwards. Before the operation the resp. Were 17, pulse 86, temp. Pupils widely dilated, muscles in a state of permanent spasm. The immediate effect of the nerve stretching was very remarkable. When the nerve was seized with the forceps, the arms and legs were firmly fixed and rigid, the back arched, the head thrown back, and the teeth clenched, although the patient was under chloroform when the first pull was given, the muscular rigidity immediately disappeared, the limbs, which had been tense and hard, became suddenly flaccid, the Opisthotonos relaxed, the jaws could be Opened, and the patient lay quietly and without Spasm on the bed. The pulse and respiration were not visibly affected by the Operation. After being stretched, the nerve was replaced, the wound closed with fine metallic sutures, and carbolized dressing ap plied. The wound in the foot was slit Open with a bistoury, and a few drops of pus let out oiled lint was applied, covered with a hot linseed meal poultice - dressing to be changed every four hours. On coming out of chloroform, the patient felt very roomfortable and drank a quantity of milk with avidity; neither Spasm nor Opisthotonos returning, he sank into a quiet sleep. At 5 pm. The Calabar bean was commenced; 3; grain of the alcoholic extract was given hypodermically every 15 minutes for five hours, then i; grain was given every half hour, so as not to disturb him so frequently. At pm. Slight Spasms returned in the left leg, and he complained of a feeling as if the leg were being violently stretched or pulled all the time; perspiration stood out upon his forehead in beads. Resp. 20, pulse 80, temp. 99° urine was drawn off, causing a severe Spasm with return of slight Opisthotonos the urine flowed tin jets, and was at times propelled a distance of several feet by the sudden contraction of the bladder.

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