30 DISEASES OE THE HORSE'S FOOT 



The Middle Branch descends between the artery and the 

 vein, and freely anastomoses with the two other branches. 

 It terminates in the coronary cushion and the sensitive 

 laminse. 



The Posterior Branch. — This is the largest of the three, 

 and may be regarded as the direct continuation of the 

 plantar. At the fetlock it is placed immediately above the 

 digital artery, but afterwards takes up a position directly 

 behind that vessel. Together with the digital artery it 

 descends to near the basilar process of the os pedis. Here 

 it passes with the plantar artery into the interior of the 

 os pedis, and continues its main branch, with the pre- 

 plantar artery, in the fissure of the same name, to finally 

 furnish supply to the os pedis and the sensitive laminse. 

 It is this nerve which is divided in the low operation of 

 neurectomy. 



Beyond the fact of this branch descending, in the 

 region of the pastern, ^ inch behind the digital artery, a 

 further point of interest presents itself to the surgeon, and 

 one to which attention must be paid. This is the presence 

 in close proximity to the nerve of the Ligament of the Pad 

 (Per rival), or the Ligament of the Ergot (McFadyean). 

 This is a subcutaneous glistening cord originating in the 

 ergot of the fetlock, passing in an oblique direction down- 

 wards and forwards, and crossing over on its way both 

 the digital artery and the posterior branch of the digital 

 nerve. 



In the foregoing description of the anatomy, we have 

 taken the fore-limb as our guide. In the hind-limb, where 

 they reach the foot, the counterparts of the tendons, 

 arteries, veins, and nerves differ in no great essential from 

 their fellow in the fore. They will therefore need no 

 special mention. 



G THE COMPLEMENTARY APPARATUS OF THE OS PEDIS. 



This consists of two lateral pieces, the Lateral Carti- 

 lages or Fibro-cartilages of the pedal bone, united behind 

 and below by the Plantar Cushion. 



