NEUROTOMY. 3G£> 
impossible for any practitioner to determine, in a case of naviculai 
disease, to what extent the cartilaginous or the ossific portion 
of the navicular bone might have been corroded, or the flexor 
tendon abraded— how soon in the natural action of the horse 
the one would be fractured or the other ruptured— and how far it 
would happen as a matter of certainty that, when the stress upon 
them and the concussion were so much increased by the altered 
action of the horse, the sensibility of the parts being destroyed, 
one or both must give way. This could not be ascertained, even 
in cases that were not of very long standing ; and the operation 
was often performed by incautious persons when the lameness 
had been of considerable duration, and when it ought to have 
been supposed that the internal mischief was of a serious cha- 
racter. It consequently happened, that, while the horse generally 
rose relieved to a great degree, or apparently sound, there were 
annoying cases in which he almost immediately broke down and 
became useless for life. . , 
Inconsiderate Operations . — Such an operation could not long be 
confined to one disease of the foot, but was hastily and at hap- 
hazard adopted for every kind of lameness. It was resorted tom 
partial anchylosis of the coffin or pastern joints ; and with good ef- 
fect, for the bold and, occasionally, violent action which was su- 
perinduced was calculated to give greater play to the joint. In 
cases of ringbone it would in the same way, and for the same 
reason, be beneficial. In cases of contraction it would call into 
something like their natural action the beautiful mechanism of 
the foot to oppose or to obviate the narrowing of the heels. Ln 
cases of obscure disease, where there evidently was little inflam- 
mation, and no ulceration, it might have good effect. In chronic 
founder, its use might be questionable, yet if every thing else had 
failed, the trial of neurotomy might be permitted ; for the former 
inflammation might not again be set up, and the natural action 
of various parts of the fool might be restored. But when there 
is evident, and, perhaps, considerable inflammation -a state for 
which rest, and the absence of every internal and external 
stimulus, afford the only direct means of cure — in which there is 
nothing so prejudicial as the natural action of the limb nothing 
so destructive as its early or violent use— when, by the very cir- 
cumstance of relieving pain, the action of every part of the loot 
and the concussion and the pressure are almost beyond compari- 
son increased— the operation of neurotomy must be certain destruc- 
tion. The animal feels no pain, but the inflammation proceeds 
with increased rapidity, and is attended by consequences of the 
most fearful character. So if the feet had been previously 
bruised or ulcerated; or if there had been bad corn, or cankei, oi 
