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NEUROTOMY. 



of lameness principally in the hinder part of the foot, so that he can leave some 

 degree of feeling in the fore part, and prevent that alteration in the tread and 

 going of the horse, which the horseman so much dislikes ? 



A The metacarpal nerve on the inside of the off leg at the edge 

 of the shank bone, and behind the vein and artery. 



B The continuation of the same nerve on the pastern, and pro- 

 ceeding downward to supply the back part of the foot 

 with feeling. 



C The division of the nerve on the fetlock joint. 



D The branch which supplies with feeling the fore part of the 

 foot. 



E The artery between the vein and nerve. ; * 



F The continuation of the artery on the pastern, close to, and 

 before the nerve. 



G The vein before the artery and nerve. 



H The same vein spreading over the pastern. 



I One of the flexor tendons, the perforatus (perforated). 



J The deeper flexor tendon, the perforans (perforating, con- 

 tained within the other). 



K The tendinous band in which the flexors work. 



L One of the extensors of the foot. 



M The internal or sensible frog. 



N The posterior lateral ligament. 



O The fleshy or sensible lamina covering the coffin bone, the 

 horny crust being removed. 



P The horny crust. 



Q The sole. 



The horse must be cast and secured, and the limb to be operated on removed 

 from the hobbles and extended the hair having been previously shaved from 

 the part. The operator then feels for the throbbing of the artery, or the round 

 firm body of the nerve itself, on the side of the shank bone or the larger pas- 

 tern. The vein, artery, and nerve here run close together, the vein nearest to 

 the front of the leg, then the artery, and the nerve behind. He cautiously 

 cuts through the skin for an inch and a half in length. The vessels will then 

 be brought into view, and the nerve will be distinguished from them by its 

 lying behind the others, and by its whiteness. A crooked needle, armed with silk, 

 is then passed under it, in order to raise it a little. It is dissected from the 

 cellular substance beneath, and about three quarters of an inch of it cut out, the 

 first incision being made at the upper part, in which case the second incision 

 will not be felt. The horse must then be turned, and the operation performed 

 on the other side ; for there is a nervous trunk on both sides. The wounds 

 are now closed with strips of adhesive plaster, a bandage placed over them, the 

 head tied up for a couple of days, and the animal kept rather low, and as quiet 

 as possible. The incisions will generally rapidly heal ; and in three weeks or 

 a month, and sometimes earlier, the horse will be fit for work. 



For ring-bone the side cartilages becoming bony, and there being partial 

 stiffness of the pastern and coffin joints the operation of nerving will probably 

 be beneficial. The sense of pain being taken away, the animal will use these parts 

 more, and they will gradually recover their natural action and motion. For the 

 same reason, in old contraction of the feet, it is highly beneficial. The torture 

 occasioned by the pressure of the horny crust on the sensible parts within being 

 no longer felt, and the foot coining fully and firmly in contact with the ground, 

 not only is lameness relieved, but the elasticity and form of the foot partially 

 restored. Where lameness has long existed, unattended with heat of the 



