THE NERVE OrERATIOX. 363 



To perfonn the nerve operation so as to render the foot com- 

 pletely insensible, the following directions must be followed, as 

 being the best and easiest method I am acquainted with, and 

 uniforndy producing tlie desired effect.* The incision should 

 begin between three and four inches above the fetlock joint, 

 that is, the most prominent part of the side of the joint, and 

 extend downwards for an inch and a half. By making a free In- 

 cision in the space that is felt between the suspensory liga)nent, 

 and the tendon, the nerve may be almost immediately exposed ; 

 and it is only necessary to remove a little cellular membrane, 

 and then it will be distinctly seen : one inch or more of the 

 nerve is usually cut out. Thus the foot may be rendered ab- 

 solutely insensible, and the lameness cured, if a proper subject 

 has been chosen for the operation. There are many circum- 

 stances to be considered with respect to the nerve operation, and 

 it is a subject of such importance as to demand a full and im- 

 partial consideration. Before this operation is performed, all 

 the circumstances of the case should be carefully inquired into, 

 and practitioners should be cautious as to the subjects they 

 select for the operation.! It has Ijcen a subject of admiration 



important branch, which takes an oblique course towards the front of the 

 pasterns and descends to the coronet, on which it is dispersed after giving off 

 branches to the neighbouring parts. This being the case, it must be evident 

 that if the operation be performed below the departure of tliis branch, the 

 front of the foot and coronet will still possess a degree of feeling of much im- 

 portance to the animal, and which will enable him to travel with a greater 

 deoree of safety than he would possess if sensation were entirely cut off. 



When, therefore, we have reason to be pretty certain that the disease is 

 limited entirely to the sphere of the navicular joint, and the horse is of suf- 

 ficient value to make the possession of a slight degree of sensation an object 

 of importance, we may justly give a preference to the low operation. In 

 favour of this situation, it is proper to mention that Mr. Sewell generally ad- 

 vises and practises the low operation. On the other hand it must be ob- 

 served, that, although the low operation generally removes the lameness at 

 first, vet it is by no means unfrequent for it to return some weeks or months 

 afterwards, either from the extension of the disease beyond the sphere of the 

 joint and the dominion of the nerves whose source is cut off, or otherwise 

 from some anastomosis of nerves which cannot easily be anatomically traced. 

 — Spooner on the Foot, iJT. 



* Before the operation is performed It is necessary, nay, all important, that 

 the le"- should be cool, not simply free from inflammation, but in a state of 

 preternatural coldness. If the practitioner venture on the operation before 

 this state is produced, he will have, at best, a very troublesome affair from the 

 vascularity of the smaller blood-vessels ; it will occupy a much longer time, 

 and from the greater dissection of parts required, the wound will not granulate 

 so well nor so quickly, but will leave a much greater blemish than other- 

 wise • the leo- for some days previously should be immersed in a bucket of 

 cold water several times a day for half an hour at a time. — Spooner. 



f The nature of the cases which justly call for the operation of neurotomy 

 demands peculiar attention, as well as those from which we have the best 

 reason to anticipate success. 



Diseases of the navicular joint capsule form the bulk of foot lamenesses, 



