NEUROTOMY. 221 



cised, the period of restoration and return of feeling could by no 

 means be calculated with any certainty. In a horse I neurotomized 

 many years ago, belonging to the Artillery, sensation and lameness 

 returned in two years, and he was in consequence sold, unfit for 

 further service. But, in a horse of my own, on which I operated 

 for navicularthritic lameness (whose case is mentioned in vol. xxof 

 The Veterinarian), and thereby rendered sound, after having ridden 

 him myself for upwards of two years, and then parted with him, 

 sensation had not re-appeared. So far as the return of lameness is 

 the question, one of the most extraordinary cases we have on record 

 is that (Case I) of the late Mr. Castley (referred to in the same vol.), 

 wherein the horse neurotomized returned to his duty, as a troop- 

 horse, a month after the operation, and continued to do his duty for 

 eight years afterwards ; and even at the expiration of that length of 

 time was not sold on account of any failing in his ci-devant lame 

 limb, '' but for old age." Although lameness had not returned, 

 whether sensation had or had not we are not informed. The 

 two conditions, although closely allied, and for the most part de- 

 pendent, are not altogether so. As was stated before, cases, 

 no doubt, arise in which changes of such a nature occur, either 

 in the structure or function of the parts affected with the disease 

 causing the lameness, as in time work the cure of that lameness, 

 or, in other words, enable the animal to perform actions without 

 pain, which in former times occasioned him more or less pain, and 

 consequent lameness. Cases of this description, we repeat, may 

 and do occur ; though we are by no means sanguine enough of 

 such results to hold out hopes of the kind to our employers. 



Neurotomy confined to one Leg holds out better prospects 

 of success than when both (fore) feet are robbed of their nervous 

 influence. We had occasion, at the commencement of this 

 subject, to state that there was, under the most favourable circum- 

 stances, some alteration occasioned by neurotomy in the action, 

 either sensible to the by-stander or else to the rider. This, in one 

 limb, might prove so slight as hardly to be perceived, though, exist- 

 ing in both, the derangement might turn out for riding any thing 

 but what was pleasant. Added to which, in two legs, of course, 

 there is more risk of failure from the operation than in one, and 



