A DICTIONAEY. 



269 



washing, syringe with some very mild stimu- 

 lant, as a very weak solution of sulphate of 

 zinc {white vitriol), etc. etc. 



" Neurotomy. — Division of the sentient 

 nerves of the foot. — Neurotomy has now 

 stood the test of very extensive application : 

 our writers offer innumerable proofs of its 

 restoring almost useless animals to a state 

 of much utility. And, if there are chances 

 that it may occasion such injury as to 

 hasten the end of some horses, it is usually 

 in such as the disease would have done the 

 same for at no distant period. Having 

 stated thus much in its favor, it must not 

 be supposed that we recommend it as an 

 unqualified benefit, even where it succeeds 

 best. No neurotomized horse ever after 

 goes with the same freedom, nor with equal 

 safety, as he did before the operation was 

 performed : indifference to the nature of the 

 ground gone over, is said to have fractured 

 legs ; it is quite common to batter the feet 

 to pieces ; and, although horses have hunted 

 afterwards, and hackneys have carried their 

 riders long distances, yet it is more calcu- 

 lated to prove beneficial to carrriage than 

 to saddle horses. This we believe to be a 

 just statement of its merits ; but there are 

 benefits which it offers to the animal of a 

 more extensive and constitutional kind. 

 Those gained by the bodily system gener- 

 ally have been in some cases very marked: 

 thus, an aged and crippled stallion, from the 

 irritation constantly kept up, became so 

 emaciated as to be unable to fecundate ; 

 but, being relieved from a constant state of 

 suffering by neurotomy, improved in health 

 and condition, and was again used to cover. 

 It happened, also, that a mare similarly cir- 

 cumstanced ceased to feel oestrum ; but 

 after neurotomy it again returned, and she 

 resumed her character of a brood mare. It 

 appears to act with most certainty when a 

 portion of the irritated nerve is excised. 

 One case has actually occurred where the 

 tetanus, occasioned by a wound in the 

 foot, was arrested and removed by neuroto- 

 my. It also promises much in the painful 

 state of some cankers, where the irritation 

 has rendered the application of dressings 



almost impossible : here, by depriving the 

 foot of sensibility, we deprive the horse of 

 that which is injurious to him : the sore it- 

 self is often amended by it ; but in every 

 instance the dressings can be effectively 

 applied, and the healthy processes cannot 

 be at all suspended. 



" With respect to wherther the lower or 

 upper incision ought to have the preference, 

 the decision should be guided by the cir- 

 cumstances, as regards the intensity and 

 the seat of the disease. The operation 

 commonly leaves, for a considerable time, 

 some enlargement around the spot, the 

 effects of the adhesive matter interposed 

 between the severed portions of nerve ; and 

 which can be remedied by no application 

 of bandages. This bulging remains so 

 long as life continues ; and, however cun- 

 ningly the incision be concealed, this can 

 be felt with ease, and tells the truth ever 

 after the operation has been performed. 

 Such a circumstance has, however, led 

 some practitioners, when it has been wished 

 to make the upper section, and yet to avoid 

 the chance of detection, to operate on the 

 metacarpal nerve on the outside, and on the 

 pastern or plantar nerve on the inside. 



'■'■Mode of performing' the operation. — The 

 situation of the section through the skin 

 being determined on, a guide to which may 

 be gained from the perforatus tendon, and 

 having firmly secured the leg to be first 

 operated on, cut the hair from the part. 

 This being done, and the exact course of 

 the artery being ascertained by its pulsa- 

 tion, make a section close to the edge of 

 the flexor tendon. Let the cut be near, but 

 rather behind, the artery, if below the fet- 

 lock joint. The cellular substance being 

 cleared away will bring the vessels into 

 view, and the nerve will be readily dis- 

 tinguished from them by its whiteness. 

 Elevating it from the vessels, and its mem- 

 branous attachments, by means of a crooked 

 needle armed with thread, pass a bistoury 

 under it, as near to the upper angle of the 

 section as possible. The violent spasm the 

 division of the nerve produces may be 

 somewhat lessened by pressing the nerve 



