182 
NEUROTOMY. 
(which is most conveniently effected by seizing hold ofr<the lower 
end of it with the forceps) may not occasion the animal the slightest 
pain or inconvenience. Sutures may be employed or not to close 
the wound; and this finishes the operation on the inner side. And 
now it may become a question in the operator’s mind whether or 
not he will proceed further than this, and operate upon the outer 
side of the leg as well. Cases, well authenticated, stand on re- 
cord, in which the disease of foot appeared to prevail on the inner 
side, wherein one operation proved sufficient. At all events, 
should any such notions be present with the operator, there can be 
no great harm in making the experiment — suffering the horse to 
rise out of his shackles, and trotting him, to ascertain what amount 
of benefit has been conferred by the single operation. Should 
which not prove satisfactory, the animal can be thrown again, this 
time upon his opposite side, to undergo the same operation on the 
outer side of the leg. 
On the other hand, should it be determined from the first to 
operate upon both sides of the pastern, and which in the majority of 
cases appears indispensable, as soon as one operation is concluded 
and the wound sewn up, the animal, as he lies, must be turned 
over ; unless both (fore) legs require neurotomy, and then, before 
he is turned over, the outer side of the other leg may — after the 
operated leg has been returned to the hobbles, and the one to be 
operated upon separated and secured — be incised and treated in 
the manner already directed, there being no essential difference 
between the inner and outer operations. 
The operations concluded, the horse is released, and as soon as 
he has risen upon his legs it is usual to have him led along, first 
at a walk, afterwards at a trot, with a view of ascertaining what 
benefit has been conferred by the operation. The most decisive 
proof we can have of success is the restoration at once from a state 
of lameness to one of soundness; at the same time it must be ob- 
served, that it does not follow, because such does not turn out to 
be the case, that hope of restoration is thereby destroyed. A 
horse may feel himself cramped from having been long fettered, 
or he may feel sore in moving his fore limbs from his wounds, or 
he may, I believe, continue to go lame from habit, simply because 
he has for so long a time prior to the operation been going lame. 
Let it be ascribed, however, to what cause it may, the fact is well 
authenticated enough, of horses hardly seeming to experience re- 
lief — at all events such decided relief — immediately after neuro- 
tomy, and yet who in after-times have been restored through it. 
Now, then, the horse is returned to his stable. A stall is, in his 
present condition, a more suitable place than a box for him. He 
requires to be fastened up securely ; two halter ropes are on that 
account better than one : the object being to keep him Irom 
