98 DISEASES OF THE HORSE’S FOOT 
accidentally be opened. If an ordinary scalpel is used, the 
lower end of the sheath should be picked up and the point 
of the scalpel inserted through it. With the cutting edge 
of the scalpel turned towards the opening of the wound, 
the sheath is then slit from below upwards. The second 
incision satisfactorily made, the wound is again wiped dry, 
and the nerve seen as a piece of white, curled string in the 
posterior portion of the wound. 
At this stage it is advisable to accurately ascertain 
whether what we have taken to be the nerve actually is it. 
This is done by taking it up with the forceps and giving it 
a sharp tweeze. A sudden struggle on the part of the 
patient will then leave no doubt in the operator’s mind 
that it is the nerve he has interfered with. 
Section of the Nerve-—The neurectomy needle (Fig. 60) 
is now taken, and, excluding the other structures, passed 
under the nerve. A piece of stout silk or ordinary string 
is then threaded through the eye of the needle, the needle 
withdrawn, and the silk left in position under the nerve. 
The silk is now tied in a loop, and the nerve by this means 
gently lifted from its bed. With the curved scissors or the 
scalpel it is severed as high up as is possible. The lower 
end of the severed nerve is then grasped firmly with the 
forceps, pulled downwards as far as possible, and then cut 
off. At least an inch of the nerve should be excised. 
The animal is then turned over, and the opposite side of 
the limb operated on in the same manner. 
The tourniquet is now removed, and the wound is 
examined for bleeding vessels. If the hemorrhage is only 
slight, the wound should be merely dabbed gently with the 
antiseptic wool until it has stayed. A larger vessel may be 
taken up with the artery forceps and ligatured, or the 
hemorrhage stopped by torsion. On no account, unless it 
it done to stay hemorrhage that is otherwise uncontrollable, 
should the wound be sutured with blood in it. With the 
wound once dry and clean, it is well to insert three or four 
silk sutures, but care must be taken not to draw them too 
tightly. This done, the patient may be allowed to get up. 
