202 NEUROTOMY. 



unworkable, neurotomy will sometimes afford relief by creating a 

 forced use of the ossified parts, and so, in the course of time, through 

 perpetual effort, by degrees, generating motion in them, the con- 

 sequence of the wearing away (absorption) of such points of the 

 ossification as most, mechanically, oppose it. 



For Ringbone neurotomy has been performed with perfect 

 success ; although, unless such ringbone interfere with the motion 

 of a joint, and thus become a cause of partial anchylosis, it may be 

 set down in that class of diseases which admit of relief by other and 

 less (to the animal economy) expensive remedies. Ringbones have 

 been distinguished into high and low, according to their situation 

 upon the pastern ; the high as well as the low, however, admits of 

 having its sensibility abstracted by neurotomy, the division of the 

 nerves in the former case having to be made either upon or above 

 the fetlock. A case is related by Mr. Rick wood in which neu- 

 rotomy proved completely successful after blistering and firing had 

 both failed ; notwithstanding the work the animal had to perform 

 afterwards was of the most trying nature. Still, I would repeat, 

 that ringbone is not a disease which commonly calls for neurotomy, 

 seeing relief may generally be afforded by simpler remedies. 



" In 1824," says Mr. Rickwood (in vol. iii of The VETERI- 

 NARIAN, p. 213) " I operated on a galloway, the property of Mr. 

 John Palmer, of Goldington, in this neighbourhood (Bedford). He 

 went very lame in the near hind leg, in consequence of ringbone. 

 I had frequently fired and blistered, with no good effect. After 

 performing the unnerving operation the horse got up quite sound, 

 and so continues up to this period (1830). He has for some time 

 past been let out as a hack in this town." 



In the case which follows, the lameness arising from high ring- 

 bone became removed by neurotomy :— 



Mr. John Tombs, antecedently to his departure for India, ope- 

 rated on a blood filly for *' an enormous ringbone upon the off 

 hind pastern." She went exceeding lame, and had been repeatedly 

 blistered, unavailingly. Mr. Tombs "excised a portion of the meta- 

 tarsal nerve,'' and directed that the wound be treated secundum 

 artem. The reason why he divided the nerve above its bifurcation 

 was, that he was debarred from doing so below by the enormity of 



