228 
REVIEWS. 
and good report, has at length settled down, in reputation, 
into what, from the first, was prognosticated of it, viz., to 
become a dernier remedy in certain cases wherein all hope of 
cure, or even relief, has fled; notwithstanding the animal’s 
age and constitution be yet unimpaired, and such as to 
render it highly desirable that his lameness be, if possible, 
removed. Percivall’s last words on the operation, and they 
were his first foretelling on the subject as well, run as follow : 
“I dare prophesy that neurotomy will be known as long as the 
veterinary art. It has hitherto stood the test of this capricious age, and 
weathered out the storm of discordant opinion ; it has ranked high in the 
estimation of its enthusiastic admirers ; it has fallen into discredit and com- 
parative dread with those who have misapplied it : its reputation has now 
but to rise to a certain point in the scale of veterinary surgery where it 
will remain, despite of all future controversy.”* 
The three instruments we are about to examine are con- 
tained in a small compact case, measuring 5 by inches 
(altogether not larger than a thin 12mo volume), and conse- 
quently of convenient size for the pocket. The knife (fig. a,) 
is so constructed that it may be used either as a scalpel or a 
lancet, or even as a bistoury ; thereby possessing qualities for 
performing all that the operator can require, whether it be 
incision through the skin, dilation of the wound, or subse- 
quent dissection of cellular envelope, and separation and 
isolation of the nerve preparatory to division. In which latter 
part of the business the forcep3 will come into play: there 
being no necessity for either scissors, or, in fact, any other 
instrument. And when a man is master of his work, and is 
adept in the use of his instruments, such varied adaptation 
of one instrument will be found, in an operation like neuro- 
tomy (which calls for off-handiness and celerity) of great 
convenience to the operator. The curved shape given to the 
knife, adapts it nicely to the clutch of the thumb and fore 
finger, and to its recline upon the middle finger, lying in 
w hich position, it is ready for immediate action, either in 
cutting downward and ripping upward, and thus becomes 
“ the pen of a ready w*riter.” 
The forceps (fig. b,) wdth their tapering points and 
Hippopathology, vol. iv, p. 198-199. 
