NEUROTOMY, OR CUTTING THE NERVE. 325 



Many persons liave supposed that by cutting the nerve, 

 the horse must lose its foot, but no such effect has ever 

 been known to follow this operation. This nerve is con- 

 nected with sensation alone ; those on which the nutrition of 

 the foot depends are the ganglial nerves, which wind round 

 the veins and arteries, even to their most minute branches, 

 and enable them to perform their functions. These cannot 

 be touched in the operation of destroying the nerve of 

 sensation, nor will it in the slightest degree militate against 

 the functions of nutrition. 



I have given a representation of the parts connected 

 with the operations of neurotomy, plate vi. fig. 7, and 

 described these parts at page 245. It will be seen that 

 the nerve is on the inside of the foot, as it approaches the 

 fetlock and passes over the pastern, where it branches off 

 above the fetlock. The prolongation of the nerve below 

 the fetlock is extended principally to the quarters and 

 hinder part of the foot, for the purpose of supplying it with 

 feeling. Before operating for neurotomy, the seat of the 

 disease which causes pain must be ascertained, which is 

 indicated by the throbbing of the artery, or by the round 

 firm feel of the nerve itself on the side of the shank-bone, 

 or the larger pastern. In this situation the artery, vein, and 

 nerve lie close together, and run in the same direction ; the 

 vein is next to the fore part of the leg, then the artery, and 

 the nerve behind. Before commencing the operation, the 

 horse is cast and properly secured. Then remove the limb 

 to be operated on from the hobbles. The hair must be 

 shaved from the part. The skin is then cut through with 

 great caution for an inch and a half in length, which will 

 expose the vessels above referred to, and the nerve will be 

 distinguished as occupying the position above pointed out, 

 as well as from its whiteness. Pass a crooked needle with 



