WOUNDS 229 
animal is afterwards more or less a walking exhibition 
of the limitations of surgery, while the owner, unless the 
animal is valuable for the purpose of breeding, finds 
himself encumbered with a life that is practically useless. 
(See Treatment of Purulent Arthritis, Chapter XII.) 
In the case of Lameness Persisting after the healing of all 
appreciable lesions, then neurectomy is followed by good 
results. The animal, apparently recovered, is for a long 
time useless. Lameness persists for several months, as if 
the nail had at the moment of its penetration caused lesions, 
which doubtless it sometimes does, similar to those of 
navicular disease. Examination of the foot in this case 
reveals no lesion, and the pain has evidently a deep origin. 
The lameness caused by it is subject to variation. Fre- 
quently it becomes lessened during rest, and increased by 
hard work, while sometimes it is very much more pro- 
nounced at starting than after exercise. 
It is here that neurectomy is called for. The operation 
does nothing to impede the work of healing going on, and 
allows free movement of the foot and pastern to take place. 
At the same time suffering and emaciation cease, and the 
animal is rendered workable.* 
C. CORONITIS (SIMPLE). 
TREAD, OVERREACH, ETC. 
1. Acute. 
Definition.—Under the heading of simple coronitis in its 
acute form we intend to describe those inflammatory condi- 
tions of the skin and underlying structures of the coronet 
occurring without specific cause. Specific coronitis will be 
found described in Chapter IX. 
Causes.—This condition is almost invariably set up by an 
injury—either a bruise or an actual wound—to the coronet. 
By far the most common among such injuries are those 
inflicted by the animal himself by means of the shoes. 
That known as ‘tread’ is caused by the shoe on the 
* Veterinary Record, vol. ii., p. 371. 
