N[16] Test Group (A) Control Group (B)
Test 1 Test 2 Gain Test 1 Test 2 Gain A-B
7 7 6 -1 914 5-6
192220 -21518 3-5
2 910 11015 5-4
27 9 6 -3 8 9 1-4
1326·528·5 22227 5-3
1012·512 -·51012 2-2·5
161918·5 -·51010- ·5
312·513 ·51414·5 ·5
141617 12222·5 ·5 ·5
2116·515-1·51917-2 ·5
11318 51115 4 1
2311·515 3·514·516 1·5 2
11111111·5 7·5-4 4
Av.14·2714·61 ·3413·5415·19 1·65-1·31
M 0 1·5 -1·5
75%ile 1·25 3·75 ·62
25%ile -1·38 ·12 -·4
Q 1·31 1·81 ·51
P. E. (distribution) 1·34 1·65 2·31
P. E. (average) ± ·37 ±·46 ±·59
Av.=-2·22 P. E.
M.=-2·54 P. E.
6 months 12 months
Average of gains of test group in excess of control -·24 -1·31
Median of gains of test group in excess of control -1·00 -1·50
P. E. of difference ±·48 ±·59
Average in terms of P. E. -·50 -2·22
Median in terms of P. E. -2·08 -2·54

The greatest gain in the test group after twelve months is 5 Kg. (Case 1). During the first six months this case lost 1 Kg. There are two gains of 5 Kg. in the control group. Of these two (cases 7 and 13) had gained 1 Kg. during the first interval and another (case 2) 2 Kg. The greatest loss in the test group after the twelve months' period was 3 Kg., by case 27, which had already lost this amount at the end of six months. The greatest loss in the control group was suffered by case 11, a loss of 4 Kg., all in the second period. After the first period, 9 out of 16 cases in the test group gained in strength of grip, and 13 in the control group. After the second period, the test cases showing gain numbered only 7 out of 13, while all of the control cases had gained except 2. Of the test group 8 cases in the second period either gained less than half of the amount they had improved in the first period, or dropped from the scores they had made at that time. The corresponding numbers for the control group are 6 and 7.

There is evidently no improvement in strength of grip twelve months after operation. The unreliability of the results is very great. However, there is certainly no tendency toward improvement. Why this should be is a question. It may be that the change in examiners is partly responsible, for performance in this test is influenced to a surprising extent by the manner in which it is presented.

TABLE XIX

Tapping—Second Retest, 15 Pairs

N[16] Test Group (A) Control Group (B)
Test 1 Test 3 Gain Test 1 Test 3 Gain A-B
21152 154 2 149 174 34 -32
13160 176 16 150 188 38 -22
1135 142 7 106 134 28 -21
18133 126 - 7 100 108 8 -15
23150 157 7 122 141 19 -12
1068 145 77 70 148 78 - 1
3136 144 8 135 135 0 8
20105 122 17 150 154 4 13
15172 192 20 140 145 5 15
27108 114 6 115 101 -14 20
8113 128 15 131 121 -10 25
28150 176 26 178 172 - 6 32
2105 135 30 152 139 -13 43
11125 120 - 5 155 102 -53 48
14190 228 38 175 165 -10 48
Av.133·47150·617·13134·6 141·8 7·2 9·93
M 15 4 11
75%ile 21·5 21·5 26·75
25%ile 5 -10·75-16·5
Q 8·25 16·1221·62
P. E. (distribution) 10·13 17·2 22·07
P. E. (average) ± 2·67 ± 4·53± 5·26
Av.=1·89 P. E.
M. =2·09 P. E.

There were 15 pairs of cases who performed the tapping test at the end of twelve months. Comparison with the 21 pairs after six months yields the following results:

6 months 12 months
Average of gains of test group in excess of control - ·09 9·93
Median of gains of test group in excess of control 0·00 11·00
P. E. of difference ±3·10 ± 5·26
Average in terms of P. E. ·03 1·89
Median in terms of P. E. 0·00 2·09

The gain in the second interval is greater for the tapping test than for any of the tests yet described. After the first six months there is no gain. At the end of ten months the average gain is 9·93, and the median 11 taps per half minute. After six months' interval, 11 of 21 test group cases had lost. At the end of twelve months, only 2 out of 15 had lost. The control group, on the other hand, lost in 11 out of 21 cases after six months, and in 6 out of 15 at the end of twelve months. All but one of the test group cases made more than half of their gain in the second period. Of the control group only 7 cases did this. The variability of gains after 12 months is about equal to the variability at the end of six months.