The first nerve graft, Vulpian, and the nineteenth century neural regeneration controversy.

We present translations from the French of 1863 and 1870 papers in which Philipeaux and Vulpian reported performing first nerve allografts and then nerve autografts in dogs. With the latter, they had some evidence of success in two of seven animals. It is our belief, based on an extensive search of the literature, that this was the first nerve grafting performed.