EXAMINING FOE NEUEECTOMY. 717 



be oonveyed to the mind as distinctly as they would be, were 

 both hands employed. If too much pressure be applied, or the 

 hand be allowed to dwell too long in its course, an incorrect 

 impression may, very possibly, be formed. It is a slovenly and 

 somewhat ridiculous procedure to squat down and feel a leg 

 with both hands, one to the front, the other to the rear, at the 

 same time. When feeling the off-fore, the left hand should go down 

 the front of the leg ; and the right, the back of the limb. 



EXAMINATION FOR HIGH PLANTAR NEURECTOMY, see 

 p. 670. 



EXAMINATION FOR MEDIAN NEURECTOMY.— When a 



veterinaiy surgeon is examining a horse, it is necessary for him to 

 find out if this operation has been performed. On this important 

 subject. Professor Hobday writes as follows in the " Veterinary 

 Record" of 2nd April, 1898: "Whilst agreeing that the scar 

 must be looked for, I do not think, from an experience of more 

 than 150 median neurectomies, that if this exists it would be of 

 any value to test sensation in or around the knee joint. One of 

 the things which seem to surprise the " knowing " client most is 

 that when tested in the usual manner with a pin or sharp instru- 

 ment on the inside of the leg, the animal, in by far the majority 

 of instances, still gives evidence of feeling the stimulus. 



" In many cases, particularly in dark bay, brown or black horses, 

 it is a matter of the greatest difficulty to find the scar, and in some 

 instances I am sure that even the most careful examiner would 

 pass it over if he trusted to that alone ; but what is to be searched 

 for in addition is the hole in the faschia covering the internal 

 metacarpal flexor, this faschia having been cut through in order 

 to expose the median nerve. 



"Mr. Browning, M.R.C.V.S., one of the College tutors, was the 

 first to make this observation in the Free Clinique, and now we 

 always rely upon it. This hole can be felt, if present, by applying 

 the point of the index or little finger over the region where the 

 operation has been performed. It is rare for this test to fail to 

 enable one to give a decided opinion, for if the space in the faschia 

 is filled up by a small hernia of muscle tissue the latter yields on 

 pressure, but if a neuroma blocks the way (and we have met with 

 this in two cases), excessive pain is caused." 



Seventh Stage. 



Remove the shoes, and examine for corns, seedy-toe, bruises 

 of the sole, and other ailments of the feet. Test the rigidity of 

 the sole, and apply the pincers all round, to see if there is any 

 soreness. 



