452 OPERATIONS—NEUROTOMY. 
In others, the horse will proceed to work, and continue sound ever 
after—the restored power to use the foot having, in the last case, seem- 
ingly destroyed the affection. 
Some animals are subjected to operation so late that disease has had 
time to weaken the pedal structures. The consequence is that no sooner 
does the absence of feeling tempt the horse to throw his entire weight 
upon the foot than the navicular bone fractures or the perforans tendon 
ruptures. 
Certain horses, from a tingling sensation in the neurotomized foot— 
similar to that felt by men in the imaginary fingers of an arm which has 
heen amputated—will stamp violently till they injure it and provoke 
suppuration ; while other feet are so irritable that the head is bent down- 
ward and large pieces from the hoof literally bitten off. To account for 
this last circumstance the reader must remember that, though the foot 
scems to itch, it in reality has no sensation to preserve it from the teeth 
of the provoked animal. 
Cases occasionally happen of horses having picked up nails, or having 
incurred wounds in the foot, which, being deprived of feeling, the animal 
wanted the power to recognize. No lameness was exhibited, and the 
injury was necessarily unattended to. The foot has been left alone till 
the hurt has induced mortification. 
Weak feet have not been able to endure the consequences of opera- 
tion. They have sustained no external injury, but the heaviness of tread 
uttendant on a loss of sensation has so battered the senseless member 
that suppuration has been induced. The hoof has therefore been cast 
off and the horse been destroyed, although it was discovered in the stable 
standing with the utmost composure upon the bleeding and exposed 
flesh. 
These are a few of the disagreeables attending a most humane and 
successful operation. The first requisite for the performance of neurot- 
omy is a sound knowledge of anatomy. A familiar acquaintance with 
the course of the nerve is essential. It descends in two main branches 
from the knee, one on either side of the leg. It travels in company with 
and behind the artery and vein on the inner side of the fore limb. On 
the outer side it is accompanied by no vessel. About the center of the 
leg, however, the two nerves are united by a branch which travels over 
the perforans tendon, connecting the sentient fibers of either side. It is 
therefore essential, in the performance of neurotomy, to make the pri- 
mary incision rather low down, especially if it is meant that the high 
operation should be accomplished, or that all sensation should be de- 
stroyed on one side by a single division. 
At the pastern the nerve divides; the posterior branch runs direct to 
