NEUROTOMY. 
241 
independent of the will, and with no indications of common sen¬ 
sation ; yet the pharyngeal branch, and the muscles to which 
it is sent, are connected with nerves of voluntary motion, in 
order to force their alliance, and obtain their co-operation, under 
extraordinary circumstances: and also with those of sensation, 
to preserve a sympathy between the parts, and a consciousness 
of their healthy or morbid state of action. 
I have dwelled the longer on this first of the nerves derived 
from the lateral column of the spinal chord ; for if I have been ena¬ 
bled to give you some idea of its function, we may passmore ra¬ 
pidly over the others. 
You will see still stronger reason for venturing to refuse to this 
nerve the designation of a respiratori) one, for it is so only in an 
imperfect and indirect degree, and under unusual circumstances; 
and is more properly designated an organic motor nerve. 
EXTRACTS FROM MY CASE-BOOK. 
Bi/ Mr. W. Simpson, V.S. Southampton. 
No. IX. 
NEUROTOMY. 
Oct. 1,1833.— Early in the year 1832, two horses belonging 
to Sir William Heathcote, Bart, were admitted into the Vete¬ 
rinary College as patients, being incurably lame in the fore feet. 
The operation of neurotomy was performed upon both, by Mr. 
Sewell, below the fetlock ; and, after a reasonable time, they were 
discharged, free from lameness: at any rate, in the regular trot¬ 
ting out they appeared to go quite sound. At the expiration of 
a few months after their arrival at Hursley Park, they were put 
to work, and certainly very great improvement was manifest in 
their action; in fact, no lameness was perceptible, and it was 
thought they were as efficient as ever. At length, however, 
after°a little extra work, a trifling degree of tenderness was to be 
noticed, accompanied by a pointing of the affected foot. (Only one 
foot was lame in one horse, both in the other.) This sort of thing 
gradually increased: every day the lameness became more per¬ 
ceptible, until, at last, it was as bad as before the operation, and 
the two horses were nearly useless for every purpose, except the 
plough, &c. Being at Hursley to-day on other business, I hap¬ 
pened to notice these horses, and was conversing at the time 
upon the very subject of neurotomy with Sir William, as re¬ 
garded another horse of his. I had been explaining the different 
