NEUROTOMY. 
179 
posterior to the inner side of the artery, and maintains this relation 
down as low as the fetlock joint. There, as it commences making 
its curve outward to meet the swell of the fetlock, the nerve gives 
rise to a branch almost as large as itself, and which takes a similar 
course, inclining however forward, and running between the plantar 
artery and vein, sending off in its way filaments to the fetlock and 
pastern, and finally distributing its terminating fibres upon the 
lateral and fore parts of the coronet. In addition to this anterior 
branch, the metacarpal nerve (or else the plantar nerve) detaches 
& posterior branch; and this takes its course between the plantar 
artery and plantar nerve, after crossing over the former, as well as 
over the ligament of the pad ; so that, in fact, it is quite superficial. 
Its destination is the substance of the frog. Neither of these 
branches (the anterior and posterior) are meddled with in neu- 
rotomy. It is 
The Plantar Nerve — the continuation of the trunk (or meta- 
carpal) nerve that becomes the subject of neurotomy whenever the 
low operation, as it is called, is contemplated. In the first part of 
its course, upon the side of the fetlock, this nerve inclines back- 
ward to get behind the artery ; a relation which it does not after- 
wards alter, though the circumstance of its running over the pastern 
at the distance of a quarter of an inch behind the artery, while 
upon the fetlock it runs in contact with it, is one of too much im- 
portance to the neurotomist to be treated with indifference ; for 
this circumstance it is that enables the operator with the bistoury 
or neurotomy knife to insinuate the point of his instrument be- 
•tween the artery and nerve, and divide the latter without risk of 
wounding or cutting the former. Another part worthy the neu- 
rotomist’s attention, and particular attention, is the slender cord 
known by the name of the ligament of the pad ; and the reason 
why it claims such particular attention from him is, that on too 
many occasions, from its being white and cord-like, and about 
the size of the nerve, has it been mistaken by the operator for the 
nerve itself, and divided and excised instead of the nerve. Now, 
this ligament is a subcutaneous glistening cord, originating in the 
cushion or pad of cellulo-fibrous substance at the back of the fet- 
lock (from which the tuft of long hair is growing) ; whence it 
passes in an oblique direction forward and downward, crossing over 
in its way both plantar artery and nerve, to dip into the interval 
left between the former and the plantar vein in its front, after 
which dip it spreads and expends itself upon the substance of the 
coronet. 
The External Metacarpal Nerve, at the upper part of the 
cannon, is to be found between the flexor tendons and suspensory 
ligament; gradually however it inclines outward, and runs along 
