NEUROTOMY, OR CUTTING THE NERVE. 
325 
Many persons have supposed that by cutting the nerve, 
the horse must lose its foot, but no such effect has ever 
been known to follow this operation. This nerve is con¬ 
nected with sensation alone ; those on which the nutrition of 
the foot depends are the ganglial nerves, which wind round 
the veins and arteries, even to their most minute branches, 
and enable them to perform their functions. These cannot 
be touched in the operation of destroying the nerve of 
sensation, nor will it in the slightest degree militate against 
the functions of nutrition. 
I have given a representation of the parts connected 
with the operations of neurotomy, plate vi. fig. 7, and 
described these parts at page 245. It will be seen that 
the nerve is on the inside of the foot, as it approaches the 
fetlock and passes over the pastern, where it branches off 
above the fetlock. The prolongation of the nerve below 
the fetlock is extended principally' to the quarters and 
hinder part of the foot, for the purpose of supplying it with 
reeling. Before operating for neurotomy, the seat of the 
disease which causes pain must be ascertained, which is 
indicated by the throbbing of the artery, or by the round 
firm feel of the nerve itself on the side of the shank-bone, 
or the larger pastern. In this situation the artery, vein, and 
nerve lie close together, and run in the same direction; the 
vein is next to the fore part of the leg, then the artery, and 
the nerve behind. Before commencing the operation, the 
horse is cast and properly secured. Then remove the limb 
to be operated on from the hobbles. The hair must be 
shaved from the part. The skin is then cut through with 
great caution for an inch and a half in length, which will 
expose the vessels above referred to, and the nerve will be 
distinguished as occupying the position above pointed out, 
as well as from its whiteness. Pass a crooked needle with 
