194 NEUROTOMY. 



" He was considered one of the most brilliant leapers that was 

 ever put at a fence*." 



Mr. Thomas Turner, the present energetic and respected 

 President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, some 

 years ago possessed a horse on which he performed the operation of 

 neurotomy, and which he afterwards rode hunting for two seasons, 

 with as much confidence, I have heard him say, as though he had 

 never been the subject either of lameness or of neurotomy. 



A Case of my own shall conclude this summary of the emi- 

 nent success that has attended neurotomy in proper hands, under 

 favourable circumstances. In June 1837, a captain of the regi- 

 ment in which I have the honour at present to serve, made me a 

 present of a horse which, setting his lameness aside, bore a high 

 name and value. His pedigree was — '' got by Whisker out of 

 Castrella," and consequently he was " own brother to Memnon," 

 who had run second for the gold cup at Ascot. Indeed, it was 

 this affair which led Chifney, then the owner of Memnon, to depart 

 in haste from the course to purchase the subject of the present 

 narrative at the extraordinary price of £1400; though, as soon as 

 he discovered his fresh purchase had no run in him, he was glad 

 to sell him for a charger at the reduced value of £200. At the 

 time he came into my possession the horse was dead lame, 

 and incurably so, in the near fore foot, from navicularthritis ; for 

 Avhich although he had been treated at several separate periods, 

 and as often relieved, 3^et, so invariably did the lameness on work 

 return, that he would now, but for my intercession, have been 

 destroyed. July 1837, his lame foot was operated on. He arose, 

 and immediately went perfectly sound, and for two years after, in 

 my possession, continued so; the use I made of him being a hack 

 about town. His former master also rode him after the operation, 

 and declared him to be as perfect in his action and performances 

 as he had ever been in his palmy days. What I continually 

 remarked myself in riding him was, that, being much in the habit 

 of changing his legs in cantering, he would quite as often lead off 

 with the near foot (the one he had been so long and painfully 

 lame upon) as with its fellow. 



* Veterinarian, vol. ill, pp. 42-3. 



