NJUDROTOMY. m 



it is dissected from the cellular substance beneath, and about three- 

 quarters of an inch cut out ; the first incision being- made at the 

 upper part, in which case the second cut will not be felt. Tliere is 

 only one nerve to be cut here, because the operation is to be per- 

 formed a little above the branching of the nerve. 



The edges of the wound are now brought together ; a small bit of 

 tow or lint is placed over them, and upon that a bandage is drawn 

 tolerably tight. The wound should not be examined for the first 

 three days, after which dress with healing ointment, or the tincture of 

 aloes. In about three weeks it will be quite healed. The relief 

 will be immediate, and the milk of the cow will return, or the graz- 

 ing beast will begin to fatten in the course of a day or two. 



The cut (No. 1) of the lateral and posterior part of the leg and 

 foot of the ox, shows the distribution and relative situation of the 

 blood-vessels and nerves of those portions of leg, fetlock, and foot. 

 Besides these, there is only one superficial nerve accompany ino- the 

 superficial vein down to the centre of the great metacarpal, oV rather, 

 in the young animal, the suture or union between the two bones, 

 few or none of whose fibres extend below the fetlock, and which 

 may be easily got at and divided in disease of that joint. 



The cut (No. 2) shows how few nervous branches extend down 

 the front of the lower part of the leg ; and how completely the 

 object of neurotomy will be accomplished by the division of the 

 nerve at the posterior part of the leg, in the manner recommended. 

 The figures illustrate the anatomy of the fore-part of the fetlock and 

 pasterns of the ox. The nerves are represented by a plain black 

 line, as in No. 1. 



It will be seen from the cut, that there may be doubt as to the 

 precise portion of the foot which is diseased, and the branch of the 

 nerve which it will be proper to cut. There are t]:ie two lateral and 

 the median trunks for the operator to choose fi'om ; but he Avho is 

 wise, when ojjeratinrf on a I'ast of draught or slow action, will operate 

 on the ox sufiiciently above the fetlock, and rather above than below 

 the situation marked 17 in the cut, and before the division of the 

 nfrye. 



