672 OPERATIONS. 



It is probable that inflammatory action iE5 less liable to be 

 excited in a neurotomisecL foot than in a sound one. 



It is evident that good results from high plantar neurectomy, 

 can be confidently expected only when it is performed during an 

 early stage of a foot disease to which it is applicable. 



As an "un-nerved" horse when being shod, runs the risk of 

 being pricked without the owner or attendant becoming aware of 

 it, until most serious results subsequently manifest themselves; 

 the operation is more useful in countries where horses can be 

 worked barefoot than in those whose working animals require to 

 be shod. Softening of the back tendons and sloughing off of the 

 hoof are two formidable accidents that may happen as results 

 of neurotomy, and are more liable to follow the high operation than 

 the low one, which is performed below the fetlock. It is commonly 

 supposed that these complications are due to the deprivation of 

 nervous influence which the foot has undergone. H. Bouley argues 

 against this view, and advances the fact that after this operation, 

 the wound heals in a perfectly healthy manner, and that the 

 secretion of horn does not appear to be injuriously affected in any 

 way. Chauveau divided all the nerves of the limbs without causing 

 any interfcTence with their nutrition. H. Bouley considers that 

 these accidents are due to increased concussion of the hoof with the 

 ground, owing to the foot having lost its feeling, and adds that " in 

 general the effects of neurotomy are much more efficacious and 

 durable in the case of horses used for slow work than in those 

 which are employed at fast paces.'* 



It appears from the foregoing considerations that the reason 

 why neiu-otomy of both feet is so much more liable to be followed 

 by unfavourable complications than that of a single foot, is that, 

 in the former case, the horse is without any indication to guide 

 him in regulating the amount of concussion which his feet can 

 safely bear, and is consequently liable to knock them about un- 

 necessarily; but in the latter we find, from the fact of his going 

 "level," that he does not (accidents excepted) put more weight 

 on the "un-nerved" foot than he does on the one whose sense 

 of feeling is intact. Besides, he is specially liable to suffer from 

 the ill consequences of injuries which in his case are often 

 greatly aggravated by unintentional neglect, owing to the 

 absence of lameness. 



THE OPERATION.— In order to effect a rapid healing of the 

 wound, and to diminish as much as possible, the subsequent scar, 

 the operator should strictly adopt, as regards his hands, instru- 

 ments, and the skin of the part, the antiseptic precautions de- 

 scribed on p. 70. It is well to use an Esmareh bandage and 



