NEUROTOIMY. 



87 



Dody of the nerve itself, on the side of the shank bone or the 

 larger pastern. The vein, artery, and nerve liere 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 bemg 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 earher, 

 the horse will be fit for work. 



Fig. 10. 



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 past- 

 ern, and proceeding downward to supply the 

 back part of the foot wnth feeling. 



C The division of the nerve on the fetlock joint. 



D The branch which supplies \vith 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 (per- 

 forated). 



J The deeper flexor tendon, the perforans (per- 

 forating, contained within the other). 



K The tendinous band in w-hich 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. 



a The sole. 



For rmg-bone — the side cartilages becoming bony, and there 

 being partial stiffness of the pastern and coffin joints the 



