72 
ON THE DISCOVERY OF NEUROTOMY. 
sion of the nerves and the destruction of all sense of pain 1 That 
some such idea occurred to the mind of Moorcroft there can be no 
doubt, for Mr. Blaine has placed it on record. “ I well remem- 
ber (says he) on my first introduction to Mr. Moorcroft, by my old 
friend Bloxam, at that time residing with him, that a very prin- 
cipal subject of our conversation was, his experiments on the feet, 
particularly as regarded rendering such as were incurable more 
serviceable, by making them less sensitive, which he had before at- 
tempted by tying up the pastern arteries , but was now employed in 
dividing the nerves of the same part .” 
How often has it happened that ignorant and uncultivated minds 
have been on the eve of the greatest discovery! Totally ignorant of 
the functions of the nerves, and almost equally ignorant of the cir- 
culation of the blood, we find men performing an operation requir- 
ing both knowledge and skill for diseased feet; from which, owing to 
the copious bleeding, the counter-irritation, &c. produced, they expe- 
rienced oftentimes beneficial results. Yet with such an operation on 
record, and in practice for upwards of two centuries, since Blunde- 
ville’s work, it is singular that the idea of the division of the nerves 
immediately in connexion with the diseased part should never have 
been thought of until lately. Whatever may be said about its dis- 
covery, the honour of having brought so useful an operation into 
general use remains with one man, and that man is Professor 
Sewell. 
Believe me, my dear Sir, 
To remain, your’s truly. 
CHOKING IN CATTLE. 
By JOHN Nelson, Veterinary Surgeon , Highfield, Sheffield. 
To the Editor of “ The Veterinarian.” 
SIR, — Since the choking season in cattle is again returned, and 
I have already had many cases, and since the losses every season 
coming under my own notice are great, occurring from evil practice 
either on the part of the owner or those to whom the care of them 
is entrusted, I feel desirous of sending you a few cases, and will 
afterwards transmit you my treatment in detail. 
Case I. 
Jan. 15, 1837. — I was desired by Mr. Joseph Bingham, of 
Norton Woodsetts, to see a cow. I returned with the messenger, 
and on examining her I could not discover any thing amiss. The 
pulse was natural, and every other department appeared so, except 
