NEUROTOMY. 
485 
where it would not soon return by means of the intricate anasto- 
moses which are there observed. Above the bifurcation these 
anastomoses have no existence ; and if sensation returns, it must 
be by re-union between the divided edges of the nerves — an 
effect which it will take a considerable period of time to accom- 
plish. 
Illustrations . — Two horses, incurably lame in the fore feet, 
were neurotomized — the operation being performed below the 
fetlock. Many months had not passed before they began to go 
tenderly, after a little extra work ; and, in the course of a twelve- 
month they were as lame as ever. They were once more taken 
in hand — the metacarpal nerves were divided — the lameness again 
disappeared, and the horses stood sound. My pupil, Mr. C. W. 
Spooner, from whom the veterinary world expects much, had an 
aged mare that had been lame for several years in the off fore-leg. 
He excised about an inch of the outer metacarpal nerve, and three- 
fourths of an inch of the inner pastern one, the heat and enlarge- 
ment being very slight on the inside of the coronet. In five 
or six weeks afterwards she was as lame as ever ; and on 
examination, the inside of the fetlock joint was hot and tender, 
while on the outer side scarcely any inflammation was percept- 
ible. As soon as the inflammation was somewhat reduced by 
cooling treatment, he operated on the inner side, above the fet- 
lock. The lameness disappeared, and the mare continued sound. 
Here was likewise an illustration of a principle already stated — 
that pain may be a cause as well as an effect of inflammation : 
therefore the operation of neurotomy will often lessen inflamma- 
tion by removing the irritating cause of it. 
Illustrations continued . — I am bound, however, in candour, to 
state to you other cases in which the operation below the fet- 
lock was perfectly and permanently successful. My lamented 
friend, Mr. Castley, had a horse in his regiment that suddenly 
fell lame in the near fore-foot. There was no apparent cause for 
it — it was a fine strong circular hoof — the foot was cool — it 
scarcely ever pointed, and yet the horse went dead lame. The 
grievance was evidently in the foot — it was probably a case of na- 
vicular lameness. He excised a portion of the pastern nerve on 
each side — it was a tolerable portion, for it was more than an inch. 
The horse got up sound, and remained so upwards of eight years ; 
and at last, at the termination of the Portuguese campaign, was 
cast and sold, not because he was becoming lame, but, on the 
true military, unfeeling principle, because he was getting old. 
Neurotomy in Navicular Disease . — Another horse, with fair 
feet, and no contraction, was lame. He was operated upon in the 
same way, and, three years afterwards Mr. Castley says of him, that 
he was as effective as any horse in the regiment, and the foot on 
