NEUROTOMY — GREASE. 243 
acceded to, and the horse was ordered to undergo proper pre¬ 
paration. 
26;//.—A portion of the metacarpal nerve was excised on both 
sides, just above the fetlock. 
March 14th, 1834.—The horse, being quite free from lame¬ 
ness, was put in harness and driven about twelve miles. He ap¬ 
peared to go very well; but, on arriving at his journey s end, it 
was found that the off hind hoof was covered with blood, and 
the heels of the neurotomized foot were dreadfully bruised and 
cut from repeated blows from the corresponding foot behind. 
To remedy this, the toe of the hind foot was ordered to be short¬ 
ened as much as possible. 
18/A.—He was driven again to-day, but without the least 
diminution of the unpleasant and dangerous contusions, although 
he does not appear to feel the slightest pain either at the time 
the blows are indicted,-or when pressed upon and examined after¬ 
wards. Being nearly twenty years old, Mr. Lamprey decided 
to destroy him, rather than be at any further trouble concerning 
him. 
This is a consequence of neurotomy which was certainly alto¬ 
gether unlooked for by me; but it is clearly caused by that 
operation, because previous to its performance there was not the 
slightest disposition to any thing of the kind, although the patient 
always had a lumbering way of going. It appears there was not 
the same activity in the affected foot as before the operation— 
it could not get out of the way of the hind foot; yet this is a 
thing which one would not expect, because, although sensation 
in the foot is destroyed, still the locomotive powers of the leg- 
are unimpaired. Such, however, has been the consequence of 
neurotomy in this individual instance. Whether it be of frequent 
occurrence I know not ; but such of your readers as have met 
with any similar cases would benefit their profession by narrating 
them. Although this is certainly an objection against neuro¬ 
tomy, still it ought to have no effect in deterring any practitioner 
from having recourse to it; because there can be no question 
between the decided and permanent inutility of an animal, and 
the mere distant possibility of a consequence like this. 
No. XI. 
GREASE. 
March 2d, 1834.—An old horse of my own, which I have just 
bought, is troubled with virulent grease in both hind legs, to 
such an extent that he cannot move across the stall without 
catching up his legs in a spasmodic manner, and nearly falling 
