50 THE HOUSE. 



picion; but if it is, on these scars being pressed, that he 

 lifts his legs suddenly, depend upon it that he has been 

 unnerved there, and that therefore they will never wear 

 any great length of time, most probably not three 

 months. Should the symptoms just described present 

 themselves on feeling along the back of the pastern, 

 between the junction of the cannon-bone and the pas- 

 tern, and the foot, the operation of neurotomy has been 

 performed at that place. In the latter case, the unnerving 

 has been performed on the back of the pastern-jointj the 

 foot being deprived of feeling at the hinder portion only. 

 The horse is capable of showing any injury the other 

 portions of the foot receive, as pricks from the black- 

 smith, bruises from stones, etc. He therefore stands a 

 better chance of having his ailments attended to before 

 it is too late. How long they will work, apparently 

 sound, after the operation, is altogether a lottery; in some 

 instances, with the lower operation, the horse works 

 free from pain for many years; therefore, in some cases of 

 lameness, it is an act of humanity to have the horse 

 unnerved, as it may save him many years of suffering, 

 and enable him to retain his serviceableness to the last. 

 But it is seldom worth any one's while to buy under such 

 risk, particularly if recently performed; for, should the 

 navicnlar disease be present, although, since the opera- 

 tion, the animal has been free from lameness, a fracture 

 of the union of the^navicular and coffin bones at the 

 minute joint which they form within the horny hoof will 

 be the result, and speedy death from mortification will 

 most probably follow. 



COURAGE. 



That the horse does not give way readily to pain, there 

 are numerous instances on record. He rushes on the 



