30 DISEASES OF THE HORSE’S FOOT 
The Middle Branch descends between the artery and the 
vein, and freely anastomoses with the two other branches. 
It terminates in the coronary cushion and the sensitive 
lamine. 
The Posterior Branch.—This is the largest of the three, 
and may be regarded as the direct continuation of the 
plantar. At the fetlock it is placed immediately above the 
digital artery, but afterwards takes up a position directly 
behind that vessel. Together with the digital artery it 
descends to near the basilar process of the os pedis. Here 
it passes with the plantar artery into the interior of the 
os pedis, and continues its main branch, with the pre-_- 
plantar artery, in the fissure of the same name, to finally: 
furnish supply to the os pedis and the sensitive lamine. 
It is this nerve which is divided in the low operation of 
neurectomy. 
Beyond the fact of this branch descending, in ihe | 
region of the pastern, } inch behind the digital artery, a 
further point of interest presents itself to the surgeon, and. ‘ 
one to which attention must be paid. This is the presence 
in close proximity to the nerve of the Ligament of the Pad 
(Percival), or the Ligament of the Ergot (McFadyean). - 
This is a subcutaneous glistening cord originating in the 
ergot of the fetlock, passing in an oblique direction down- ” 
wards and forwards, and crossing over on its way both 
the digital artery and the posterior branch of the digital 
nerve. 
In the foregoing description of the anatomy, we have 
taken the fore-limb as our guide. In the hind-limb, where 
they reach the foot, the counterparts of the tendons, 
arteries, veins, and nerves differ in no great essential from 
their fellows in the fore. They will therefore need no 
special mention. 
G. THE COMPLEMENTARY APPARATUS OF THE OS PEDIS. 
This consists of two lateral pieces, the Lateran Carrt- 
Laces or Fibro-cartilages of the pedal bone, united behind 
and below by the Plantar Cushion. 
