66 
NEUROTOMY, 
rotomy, as a remedy for removing pain only, is not applicable when 
the seat of pain or lameness is above the knee or hock. Nor, I 
may add, has neurotomy been found any other but injurious in 
what go by the name of back sinew cases ; and for the twofold 
reason, of the difficulty there is in completely cutting off sensation, 
and of the liability that still must exist in every deranged or dis- 
eased tendon or theca to what we familiarly call “break down” 
afresh under the continued operation of weight and extraordinary 
muscular force. 
Neurotomy has other Objects besides the removal of lame- 
ness. In effecting the immediate and total abstraction of pain and 
irritation, it has rendered marked service in cases of altogether a 
different nature from lameness, as well as of entirely opposite nature, 
one to another. 
Both the oestral and generative functions have become restored 
through neurotomy. Brood mares that have proved barren in con- 
sequence of painful lameness annihilating in them all sexual desire, 
and that have ceased to have at the usual season any return of the 
oestrum, have, from losing such pain, had their natural generative 
functions restored, and become again good breeders. 
“ In 1822,” writes Mr. Rickwood, in The Veterinarian, 
vol. iii, p. 213, “ a chestnut cart mare at Oakley, the property 
of the Marquis of Tavistock, went very lame in the near foot 
behind, in consequence of complete ossification of the lateral 
cartilages and extensive ossific disease around the coronet. She 
scarcely ever placed the foot upon the ground, but generally moved 
on three legs. Her sufferings prevented the periodical oestrum. 
She had not bred for years. About two months after the opera- 
tion she went to work, and moved sound. She has bred several 
healthy foals, and works as usual.” 
Traumatic Tetanus has had its Course arrested by 
Neurotomy. Ill a paper “ on Tetanus,” read by Mr. Henderson, 
V.S. to the Queen Dowager, before the Veterinary Medical Society, 
in the year 1832, that gentleman says — “ I have known a case (of 
tetanus), produced by a wound in the foot, cured by the operation 
of neurotomy ; I have also known the same treatment in other 
cases fail. So, likewise, in tetanus arising from docking, horses 
have recovered, in consequence of the diseased part being ampu- 
tated (which, in fact, is nothing but neurotomy); in other cases of 
the kind the same has failed.” — •“ I particularly recollect,” adds 
Mr. Henderson, “ having examined one case where I found the 
spinal nerves very vascular, and the intestines bordering on in- 
flammation ; and such appearances naturally lead me to a belief, 
that, unless an operation can be performed in a very early stage 
of the complaint, we have but little chance of success.” — VETERI- 
NARIAN, vol. v, p. 67- 
[To be continued.] 
