686 OPERATIONS. 



made, up to this, whenever the nerve is touched. The free end is 

 pulled out of the wound, and a;S muoh of the nerve is cut off at the 

 lower end of the incision as the operator can get at. Unless at 

 least an inch in length of the nerve is removed, sensation may 

 become re-established after a few months by nervous union taking 

 place between the cut ends. The horse should now be turned over 

 and the operation performed on the outside. The object of draw- 

 ing the nerve out is to prevent the cut end's from becoming involved 

 in the healing of the external wounds. 



The fact of the part having been previously blistered, greatly 

 increases the thickness of the skin and underlying tissue, and adds 

 to the blood-supply in them. 



Any blood, the presence of which might impede the work, may 

 be " sopped " up with a piece of antiseptic cotton-wool. The 

 part should be treated by some antiseptic solution (p. 67), and the 

 wound closed by a stitch of carbolised catgut or suture wire, 

 although such means will rarely be required, on account of the 

 smallness of the incision. After the horse has been allowed to 

 regain his feet, the blood issuing from the wound should be 

 " sopped " up as before, with antiseptic cotton, and when it has 

 stopped flowing, put on a dry antiseptic, such as tannoform, and 

 then a thick covering of antiseptic {e.g., salicylic acid, iodoform, 

 eucalyptus, or boracio acid) cotton-wool, which may be kept in its 

 place by eight or ten layers of corrosive sublimate gauze rolled 

 round the leg. If a lotion has been used, apply gutta/-percha tissue 

 over the whole, so as to prevent evaporation. The, dressing can be 

 left on for a week, after which time the wound ought to have healed 

 up with but a slight scar. 



The employment of chloroform naturally renders the operation 

 easier, especially for an inexperienced operator, and saves the horse 

 from unnecessary pain. 



When neurotomy of both fore feet is indicated, it is prudent to 

 allow a few' days' interval to elapse after the operation in one leg, 

 before performing on the other. 



After "un-nerving" a foot, special care should be taken, for a 

 couple of months at least, not to subject it to violent concussion, 

 and great attention should be devoted to its shoeing and general 

 management. 



In the event of fracture of the navicular bone, after neurotomy, 

 there is elevation of the toe of the foot, which does not occur in 

 cases that have not been operated upon. Such a fracture not in- 

 frequently happens when the bone has suffered for a long time, 

 from navicular disease. 



After neurotomy, there is generally an increase of growth' of 

 horn, on account of the division, of the sensory nerves causing 



