NEUEOTOMY. 



671 



INDICATIONS AND UNFAVOURABLE RESULTS.— " The 

 effects of neurotomy are certain and durable when it is employed 

 at the commencement of navicular disease, and when the ailment 

 is confined to one foot. It can be easily imagined that it is im- 

 possible for the operation to be successful, when the navicular 

 bone and tendon are destroyed by ulceration" (Peuch and Tous- 

 saintj. 



The same authors strongly recommend the operation in cases of 

 chronic lameness from sidebones ; ringbones, except when they are 

 accompanied by bony union of the joint; chronic laminitis; in- 



Fig. 170. — Horse in a cunvenicnt posiu-'u lo L. .^i.wi 



juries to the hoof which may have caused a bony formation on the 

 pedal bone, or may have had the effect of increasing, to an 

 abnormal extent, the local growth of the inner horn of the hoof, 

 constant pain from pressure being the result in either case; or 

 from surgical operations on the foot. English veterinarians con- 

 sider that horses whose feet have suffered more or less from 

 laminitis should not be " un-nerved." Such feet are generally flat, 

 and have weak soles and heels. 



