NEOROTOMY. 



87 



Dody of the nerve itself, on the side of the shank bone or the 

 larger pastern. The vein, artery, and nerve here run close 

 together, the vein nearest to the front of the leg, then the 

 artery, and the nerve behind. He cautiously cuts through the 

 skin for an inch and a half in length. The vessels will then 

 be brought into view, and the nerve will be distinguished from 

 them by its lying behind the others, and by its whiteness. A 

 crooked needle, armed with silk, is then passed under it, in order 

 to raise it a little. It is dissected from the cellular substance 

 beneath, and about three quarters of an inch of it cut out,^the 

 first incision being made at the upper part, in which case the 

 second incision wiU not be felt. The horse must then be turned, 

 and the operation performed on the other side ; for there is a 

 nervous trunk on both sides. The wounds are now closed with 

 strips of adhesive plaster, a bandage placed over them, the head 

 tied up for a couple of days, and the animal kept rather low, 

 and as quiet as possible. The incisions will generally rapidly 

 heal ; and in three weeks or a month, and sometimes earlier, 

 the horse will be fit for work. 



Fig. 10. 



A The metacarpal nerve on the inside of the off leg! 

 at the edge of the shaikh bone, and behind the 

 vein and artery. 



B The continuation of the same nerve on tlie past- 

 em, and proceeding downward to sopply the 

 back part of the foot with feeling. 



C The division of the nerve on the fetlock joint. 



D The branch which supplies with feeling the 

 fore-part of the foot 



E The artery between the vein and nerve, 



F The continuation of the artery on the pastern, 

 close to, and before the nerve. 



Q ¥he vein before the artery and nerve. 



H The same vein spreading over the pastern 



I One of the flexor tendons, the petfaraius (per- 

 forated). 



I The deeper flexor tendon, the perforaiu (per- 

 forating, contained within the other). 



K The tendinous band in which the flexors work. 



L One of the extensors of the foot 



M The internal or sensible frog. 



N The posterior lateral ligament. 



O The fleshy or sensible lamina covering the coffin 

 bone, the homy crust being removed. 



P The homy crust 



a The sole. 



For ring-bone — the side cartilages becoming bony, and there 

 being partial stiffness of the pastern and coflJn joints — ^the 



