488 
ANIMAL PATHOLOGY. 
Caution . — The practitioner would smile at the caution which 
I am now about to give you ; but I have seen a great deal of the 
proceedings of you young men, and know that it is necessary. 
Beware of the sheath of the flexor tendons ! When the tourni- 
quet has not been used, and the incision has become filled with 
blood, and the operator has not been able to see where he cuts 
and what he is about, in his eagerness to clear away the cellular 
texture he has wounded the sheath ; and what is the conse- 
quence? — he has not, indeed, a case of opened joint, but of ex- 
posed synovial membrane ; and very considerable inflammation 
and swelling of the leg supervene; and the wound becomes filled 
with coagulated synovia ; and as fast as he removes one portion 
another comes ; and he is teased day after day: and, after all, the 
engorgement of the leg will not subside without a blister, and 
the gaping scar ever speaks of his awkwardness, so that he 
who runs may observe and laugh. 
After-proceedings . — “ And so,” I have just said, “ends the 
operation of neurotomy.” So it generally does end; but so it 
ought not. Incases of old and obscure lameness, in which all 
other means had been ineffectually tried, I scarcely know what 
farther is to be done. The pain is removed, and the chronic and 
slight degree of inflammation which was perpetuated chiefly by 
the irritation connected with the existence of pain subsides, and 
a perfect cure is accomplished. It may be the same with chronic 
founder; but if I resort to neurotomy on account of ossified 
cartilages, or ringbone, or partial anchylosis of the pastern and 
coffin joints, shall I be satisfied with the benefit which I obtain 
from this operation, great as it is? No; I have got rid of pain — - 
the occasional cause — the constant supporter of inflammation — 
and I will see whether my former means and appliances may not 
now have more power. I will try by means of my blister or 
firing-iron whether I cannot rouse the absorbents to more efficient 
action, and not only arrest the progress of the bony tumour, but 
remove it ; I will not merely suffer the usefulness of my patient 
to depend on the continued suspension of feeling, but assure it, 
by the partial or total removal of the morbid growth. 
Contraction . — In contraction of the foot shall I be satisfied 
with removing the agony occasioned by the constant pressure of 
the horn on the sensitive interposed substance between it and 
the coffin bone ; or shall I not take advantage of the insensibility 
and the higher action which I have produced, and pare the sole 
thoroughly out, and rasp the quarters to the very quick, and use 
every suppleing application which I can devise, and apply my 
unfettered shoe, and when I have produced a disposition to ex- 
