52 WARRANTY OF 



lumps, you have still stronger reason for suspicion ; but 

 if it is on these scars being pressed that he lifts his legs 

 suddenly, depend upon it that he has been unnerved there, 

 and that therefore they will never wear any great length 

 of time, most probably not three months. Should the 

 symptoms just described present themselves on feeling 

 along the back of the pastern, between the junction of the 

 cannon-bone to the pastern, and the foot, the operation 

 of neurotomy has been performed at that place. In 

 the latter case, the unnerving has been performed on 

 the back of the pastern-joint, the foot being deprived 

 of feeling at the hinder portion only. The horse is 

 capable of showing any injury the other portions of the 

 foot receive, as pricks from the blacksmith, bruises 

 from stones, &c. He therefore stands a better chance 

 of having his ailments attended to before it is too late. 

 How long they will work, apparently sound, after the 

 operation, is altogether a lottery ; in some instances, 

 with the lower operation, the horse works free from 

 pain many years ; therefore, in some cases of lameness, 

 it is an act of humanity to have the horse unnerved, as 

 it may save him many years of suffering, and enable 

 him to retain his serviceableness to the last. But it is 

 seldom worth any one's while to buy under such risk, 

 particularly if recently performed; for, should the 

 navicular disease be present, although, since the opera- 

 tion, the animal has been free from lameness, a fracture 

 of the union of the navicular and coffin bones at the 

 minute joint which they form within the horny hoof 



