60 
NEUROTOMY. 
high standing and talent of our own country, running, I am sorry 
to say, in words as follows : — “ They (the opposers of his opinions 
and discoveries * on the foot of the horse’) have added a barbarity 
surpassing in refined cruelty even the unsoling or any other cruelty 
ever proposed by the old farriers, that of nerving the horses’ legs 
when they were not relieved by their injudicious measures, and so 
destroyed the very fundamental properties of the foot, instead of 
pursuing the natural and most obvious means of prevention and 
relief from the evil. Seeing and deeply feeling the very great 
injury done to the animals, as well as to the public and ourselves, 
we cannot on such an occasion but express warmly our natural, 
and we believe just, indignation at such conduct*.” 
I shall wind up this defence of neurotomy with a paragraph 
from my own “ Lectures,” published, now, four-and-twenty years 
ago : — “ The incurably lame and useless horse is him alone for 
whom I recommend it (neurotomy) : my object being to render 
an animal serviceable during the remainder of his life, who, other- 
wise, must have been given up as utterly valueless for slaughter. 
No one who has given the subject of neurotomy the least reflec- 
tion can imagine that the operation was ever intended to super- 
sede other remedies. The very nature of it is such that, as a 
dernier resource, it is applicable only to a desperate and hopeless 
case ; and if it succeed in restoring one of this description, it is of 
more value and consideration to us than if it were only applicable 
to such as we can relieve by other and simpler means. In conclu- 
sion, let me remark, that I do not recommend such horses being 
raced, hunted, or put to any other (like) extraordinary exertions. 
They may be driven in harness, and are more especially qualified 
for four-wheeled carriages or for leaders in others : in short, for 
situations where no weight is incumbent on the fore feet. A 
“ In this point of view — its objects being thus circumscribed — I 
dare prophecy that neurotomy will be known as long as the vete- 
rinary 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 comparative dread with those who have misap- 
pied it ; it 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 Election of the Subject for Neurotomy it is upon 
which mainly depends the success of the operation. The operation 
itself is simple and easy of performance ; but, however well per- 
formed, cannot avail in a subject unhappily chosen for it, or devoted 
* “ The Foot of the Horse.” By Bracy Clark, p. 56. 
