200 NEUROTOMY. 



larthritic disease in both (fore) feet — confinnedly groggy, as the 

 phrase goes — the choice does not lie between still able to work 

 and neurotomy, but between neurotomy and the slaughter-house ; 

 for the inveterate groggy horse is absolutely worth for work next 

 to nothing, while the pain many such poor beasts unremittingly 

 endure wears them down in condition to that degree that ultimately 

 their constitution gives way as well as their legs and feet. And, 

 therefore, I repeat, nothing can save such horses from slaughter but 

 the hand of the neurotomist ; nor will that avail them at such times 

 as other grave morbific changes have supervened upon those in the 

 navicular joint, or where age has added decrepitude to lameness. 



In neither case — neither in one nor both navicularthritic feet — 

 will the judicious veterinary practitioner operate at a time when 

 inflammatory action is detectible in the feet. It is a rule with 

 surgeons, never, if it be possible to avoid so doing, to cut into an 

 inflamed part ; and veterinary surgeons should make it their rule, 

 in the performance of neurotomy, to postpone the operation when 

 inflammation is present, until such time as, by suitable means, such 

 inflammation has been either altogether got rid of, or else sufficiently 

 abated — by, in the case of the foot, taking blood from the toe, if 

 that be necessary, and by hot or cold applications, poultices, &c. 

 and physic, as the case may appear to require. In chronic cases, 

 where blood-letting is not called for, standing in clay for so many 

 hours a-day will prove an excellent refrigerent. 



In regard to disease of the navicular joint, there is another stage 

 of it besides the inflammatory in which neurotomy ought not to be 

 performed, and that is the acute or active ulcerative condition of 

 the articular surfaces. It must be evident to the smallest reflection 

 that motion of the joint and pressure upon surfaces in such a con- 

 dition cannot fail to be productive of the worst consequences: 

 ulceration, aggravated by such abuse, will proceed with that re- 

 doubled speed and malignancy, that, the union of the flexor per- 

 forans tendon with the navicular bone being the especial seat of 

 it, we need feel no surprise at rupture of tendon and dislocation of 

 bone, and consequent breaking down of the horse. But, how is 

 this ulcerated state of joint to be foretold? — how are we to know 

 for certain that it exists ] The best indications of its presence to 



