NEUROTOMY. i6i 



a stab wound, merely sufficient lo afford passage for the 

 blade of the instrument, about i cm. below its inferior border 

 at a point midway between the anterior and posterior borders 

 of the hock, or slightly anterior theretp. Push the tenotome 

 flatwise between the skin and tendon, as shown in the plate, 

 force it upwards to the superior border of the tendon, 

 then turn the cutting edge toward it and elevating the 

 handle, using the superior border of the skin wound as a 

 fulcrum, cut the tendon through from without inwards. 

 By firm pressure upon the skin over the tenotome peri- 

 osteotomy is simultaneously accomplished. The completion 

 of the operation is evidenced by the separation of the cut 

 ends of the tendon leaving a well-marked depression at the 

 point of division. Disinfect the wound, apply an antiseptic 

 tarred bandage resting upon the fetlock and including the 

 hock and allow to remain undisturbed for six days. Healing 

 by primary union. After the incision through the skin has 

 been made, the Peters' knife may be used instead of the 

 straight scalpel, and the tendon and periosteum cut through 

 at two or three different points, the cuts diverging upwards 

 from the cutaneous wound, V-shaped. 



NEUROTOMY. 



General Remarks. Neurotomy is performed for a vari- 

 ety of objects, such as the relief of pain in a sensitive nerve 

 itself, as in trifacial neurotomy, p. 64, the relief of pain, 

 or lameness in a part supplied by a sensory nerve, or the 

 inhibition of motor power, as in the "cribbing" opera- 

 tion by severing the spinal accessory where it passes intO' 

 the sterno-maxillaris muscle. 



The following neurotomies are designed to relieve pain 

 and the consequent lameness dependent upon a pathologic 

 condition of some part or tissue on the distal side of the 

 II 



