AJTD HIS DISEASES. 201 



able. In the horse, however, it is confined entirely to diseases 

 of the foot, such as incurable cases of navicular disease, 

 painful side-bones, ring-bones, and sometimes, from feelings 

 of humanity, in aggravated cases of canker, which are tedious 

 and painful in the extreme. 



It is well to bear in mind that, the sensation being de- 

 stroyed, the animal wiU not feel a bruise or prick ; hence by 

 carelessness in shoeing much mischief has been done, " and 

 the hoof has actually dropped off after the division of the 

 nerve" — not, however, from any interference with the nutri- 

 tion of the foot, but from the suppuration burrowing under, 

 and detaching the hoof without being felt by the animal. 



Again, in cases of aggravated navicular disease, with ulcera- 

 tion of the navicular bone, from want of that care which the 

 animal naturally takes of a lame member, the rough bone 

 saws through the tendon, which gives way, flowing the foot 

 to turn up, necessitating the destruction of the animal. 



Great care is therefore required in selecting subjects suited 

 for the operation. Weak flat feet should never be operated 

 upon — more especially if the horse has high action. If much 

 used on the road he is apt to batter his feet to pieces. The 

 greatest care is required in shoeing not to prick, and in 

 driving not to bruise the sole. The feet should be washed 

 and picked every night, and well tarred, to keep them from 

 becoming dry and hard. 



We have operated on over three dozen cases within the 

 last five years with almost complete success. When properly 

 performed, and judiciously applied, it is a great boon, not 

 only to the poor sufferers themselves, but also to the owners, 

 who have hitherto useless animals restored to usefulness. 



The operation consists in excising a portion of the meta- 

 carpal nerves, either above or below the fetlock as the judg- 

 ment of the operator sees the case requires. 



