NEUROTOMY. 
63 
There is, however, a kind of laminitis which we may call chronic 
or sub-acute, wherein the coffin bones are not at all or but little 
displaced, and consequently the soles not sunk ; and this dis- 
ease, from a repetition of attacks, will now and then end in pro- 
ducing grogginess. To neurotomy in cases of this description 
there is no objection : on the contrary, when such a subject is too 
lame to work neurotomy is recommendable. 
In Ossification of the Cartilages, partial or complete 
anchylosis of the coffin joint or pastern joint, when lameness there- 
from, as it commonly is, is extreme, and such as to render the horse 
unworkable, neurotomy will sometimes afford relief by creating a 
forced use of the ossified parts, and so, in the course of time, through 
perpetual effort, by degrees, generating motion in them, the con- 
sequence of the wearing away (absorption) of such points of the 
ossification as most, mechanically, oppose it. 
For RINGBONE neurotomy has been performed with perfect 
success; although, unless such ringbone interfere with the motion 
of a joint, and thus become a cause of partial anchylosis, it may be 
set down in that class of diseases which admit of relief by other and 
less (to the animal economy) expensive remedies. Ringbones have 
been distinguished into high and low according to their situation upon 
the pastern ; the high as well as the low, however, admits of hav- 
ing its sensibility abstracted by neurotomy, the division of the 
nerves in the former case having to be made either upon or above 
the fetlock. In vol. iii of The VETERINARIAN, p. 213, a case is 
related bv Mr. Rickwood, in which neurotomy proved completely 
successful after blistering and firing had both failed ; notwithstand- 
ing the work the animal had to perform afterwards was of the 
most trying nature. Still, I would repeat, that ringbone is not a 
disease which commonly calls for neurotomy, because relief may 
generally be afforded by simpler remedies. 
“ In 1824,” says Mr. Rickwood, in vol. iii of The Veteri- 
narian, p. 213, “ I operated on a galloway, the property of Mr. 
John Palmer, of Goldington, in this neighbourhood (Bedford). He 
went very lame in the near hind leg, in consequence of ringbone. 
1 had frequently fired and blistered, with no good effect. After 
performing the unnerving operation the horse got up quite sound, 
and so continues up to this period (1830). He has for some time 
past been let out as a hack in this town.” 
In the case which follows, the lameness arising from high ring- 
bone became removed by neurotomy : — 
Mr. John Tombs, antecedently to his departure for India, ope- 
rated on a blood filly for “ an enormous ringbone upon the off 
hind pastern.” She went exceeding lame, and had been repeatedly 
blistered, unavailingly. Mr. Tombs “ exised a portion of the meta - 
