PLANTAR NEUROTOMY. 



545 



validity in this allegation, from the known fact that in a majority 

 of cases its early recun-ence is mainly due to imperfect methods or 

 an vmskillfixl performance of the operation, and cannot, for that 

 reason, be considered a proper incident of the case, but simply 

 an accident, which may be obviated by care and precaution, and 

 in judging the transaction, must be eliminated from the argu- 

 ment. 



Probably the most important and most nearly valid objection 

 is that the suppression of the nervous influence has more or less 

 effect upon the nutrition of the digital region. Notwithstanding- 

 the observations of Braael, the question of the direct influence of 

 the digital nerves upon the nutrition of that region is a point 

 which has not yet been thoroughly comprehended by our physiol- 

 ogists. For this region this objection, and the points involved in 

 it, call for further study, and it is nearly certain that when it has 

 received this the end will be the removal of the reproach brought 

 against neurotomy of interfering with the vegetative life of the 

 digital region. 



Having thus examined the objections which have been ui'ged 

 against neurotomy, a consideration of the advantages claimed for 

 it will come next in order of mention. Leaving out of view the 

 few failures to which the operation, in common with every human 

 act or endeavor, whether in great matters or small, is from the 

 constitution of things, hable, we proceed to the facts which demon- 

 strate the usefulness and value of the treatment, with a descrip- 

 tion of the various modes of procedure practiced by different sur- 

 geons. The facts of the direct and successful results which be- 

 yond question have been secured, are so numerous and so j)atent, 

 and they so far counter-balance all possible accidents, that no 

 conceivable array of abortive cases, if reported truly and with- 

 out prejudice, can impair their force and significance. It would 

 be impossible to reach even a proximate estimate of the value 

 saved and the loss prevented by the restoration of unnumbered 

 useless and suffering animals to comfort and usefulness. 



And these are what might be called the j^ositive or dii*ect ad- 

 vantages of neui'otomy. But besides these, there are other advan- 

 tages in the secondar}^ effects of the operation, of which the im- 

 portance cannot be ignored, especially when they are commended 

 to our attention by such authority as that of Professor Nocard, of 

 Alfort, when he says : " In several cases I have noticed a great 



