NEUROTOMY, OR CUTTING THE NERVE 297 



the foot freely, as he will not feel pain while in motion. 

 Neurotomy may also prove of much advantage in 

 long-continued lameness, where no unusual heat is dis- 

 coverable, nor contraction or alteration in its form can 

 be perceived ; neither will the extremely acute pain 

 caused by the pressure of the horny crust on the 

 sensible parts be longer felt, and the animal will be 

 able to place his foot firmly and fully upon the ground ; 

 all appearance of lameness will be removed, and the 

 ultimate result will be a partial restoration at least of 

 the form and elasticity of the foot. 



The above are some of the benefits which will be 

 derived from neurotomy ; but there are other cases 

 where cutting the nerve would be attended with un- 

 favourable results. When the pastern or coffin-joints 

 are quite stiff and unyielding, if this operation were 

 performed, the animal would naturally bring his foot 

 to the ground with force, and the joints being divested 

 of their natural elastic play, the bone would be still 

 more injured. In inflammation or ulceration of the 

 cartilages and ligaments, it would be injudicious to cut 

 the nerve, as the animal feeling no pain, the too active 

 use of the foot would hasten the progress of disease by 

 bruising the parts. Neither would it be proper to 

 have recourse to neurotomy in pumiced and convex 

 soles of the foot, because it would be speedily worn 

 out and destroyed by the animal now pressing on it ; 

 whereas before the operation the pain of pressure 

 naturally induced him to bear lightly on it. 



From what we have said, we hope all the prejudices 

 against this operation will be removed, and by resort- 

 ing to it many suffering cart and waggon horses will be 

 freed from suffering, and prove more serviceable to 

 their owners. But by all means let the nerve be cut 

 by an experienced veterinary surgeon. 



