KILLING A HORSE. 



669 



language it is called neurotomy^ which signifies the mere cutting of 

 a nerve or nerves. It has special reference to sensory nerves, 

 which, like those of feeling, convey impressions inwards to the 

 brain and spinal cord; the reply being transmitted outwards by 

 motor nerves. If, for instance, our hand receives a wound, its 

 sensory nerves convey the impression of pain to their nervous 

 centre, which thereupon excites the motor nerves of the hand and 

 arm to draw the limb back. If, in such a case, neurectomv of the 



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Fig. 169. — Shooting a horse. 



motor nerves of the part had been performed, pain would be felt, 

 but no response would be obtained from the muscles, which, as 

 a result of the neurectomy, would be in a paralysed condition. 

 If, on the contrary, neurectomy only of the sensory nerves had 

 been made, there would be no pain, and consequently no muscular 

 contraction; although the nervous centre could cause movement 

 by acting on the motor nerves of the part. Hence, when a 

 horse is lame from an incurable disease which, like navicular 

 disease, renders movement painful, it is well to remove sensibility 

 by neurectomy. The operation will then have to be performed 



