NEUROTOMY. 209 



ward to get behind the artery : a relation which it does not after- 

 wards alter ; though the circumstance of its running over the pastern 

 at the distance of an eighth of an inch behind the artery, while 

 upon the fetlock it runs in contact with it, is one of too much im- 

 portance to the neurotomist to be treated with indifference; for, 

 this circumstance it is that just renders it possible for the operator 

 with a bistoury to insinuate the point of his instrument be- 

 tween the artery and nerve, and divide the latter without risk of 

 wounding or cutting the former. Another part worthy the neu- 

 rotomist's attention, and particular attention, is the slender cord 

 known by the name of the ligament of the pad ; and the reason 

 why this claims such particular attention from him is, that on too 

 many occasions, from its being white and cord-like, and about 

 the size of the nerve, has it been mistaken by the operator for the 

 nerve itself, and divided and excised instead of the nerve. Now, 

 this ligament is a subcutaneous glistening cord, originating in the 

 cushion ov pad of cellulo-fibrous substance at the back of the fet- 

 lock (from which the tuft of long hair is growing) ; whence it 

 passes in an oblique direction forward and downward, crossing over 

 in its way both plantar artery and nerve, to dip into the interval 

 left between the former and the plantar vein in its front, after 

 which dip it spreads and expends itself upon the substance of the 

 coronet*. 



The External Metacarpal Nerve, at the upper part of the 

 cannon, is to be found between the flexor tendons and suspensory 

 ligament; gradually however it inclines outward, and runs along 

 the posterior and outer border of the flexor tendons, still inclining 

 outward in its course until it reaches the outer edge of the per- 

 forans tendon, which for some few inches above the fetlock is the 

 best guide we can take to find it. Upon the side of the fetlock it 

 joins the outer posterior artery, running at first close behind the 

 vessel, and pursuing its course in relation to the artery in pre- 

 cisely the same manner as its fellow on the opposite side, the 

 internal metacarpal nerve, and giving off in its passage similar 

 branches. 



* All this will be better understood by a reference to Plate VIIL 

 VOL. IV. E e 



