NEUROTOMY. 
379 
disease, whether on the outer or inner side of the joint, 
which has removed the lameness and pain ; and, in some 
cases, where the joint was not anchylosed, the ossification 
has become greatly diminished. I have, also, as I believe, 
successfully resorted to a division of the nerve in cases of 
spavin, and occult ulcerative disease of the hock-joint ; 
excising the popliteal nerve just above the hock, when all 
other remedies have proved valueless. I am indebted to 
Professor Spooner for first suggesting this operation to me. 
A few months ago I operated upon a horse with a capped 
hock, the joint being ulcerated and likewise ossified to 
some extent, and the patient excessively lame. It had 
been both fired and blistered, and the animal rested for two 
years. As a last resort, I tried neurotomy above the hock, 
and the horse is now r perfectly free from lameness and at 
daily work. In another case of bone spavin, in which there 
was considerable exostosis, and which had been fired, and 
caustics applied without any relief being afforded, I un- 
nerved above the hock, and the animal became free from 
lameness. But to ensure success, great care must be taken 
afterwards always to have the horse properly shod, the heels 
of his hind shoes being well thickened, and the toes kept 
short. The animal, also, should not be turned out to gallop, 
nor put to too quick work at first. 
I have had two cases in which the hoofs sloughed off from this 
hock operation, but one was in consequence of the horse not 
being shod properly, and turned out without my knowledge. 
The other horse had been operated upon for six months, 
and ridden as a hunter ; when, unfortunately, he cast the 
hind shoe, and having been ridden home without a shoe, the 
sole became so bruised, that inflammation and suppuration 
ensued. 
So far as my experience goes, it is to this effect, that the 
hoofs will not. slough off solely from the operation, but there 
must be other causes either existing at the time of the ope- 
ration, or produced subsequently, in addition to the navicular 
disease. 
I had nearly forgotten to state that I always operate below 
the fetlock for hunters, it being more safe as well as less 
liable to be hit by the opposite foot, which sometimes causes 
the horse to become suddenly lame. Some horses are very apt 
to hit their legs just above the fetlock, where the operation is 
usually performed. I have also observed, that in the high 
operation, the foot comes down with much more force, thereby 
causing greater concussion to a diseased joint. Likewise, 
that, in some cases, from the shoeing not being properly 
performed, this operation fails. 
