74 
CASES OF NEUROTOMY. 
for all direct communication between the wounded sinew and its 
parent muscle was completely cut off. 
TWO CASES OF NEUROTOMY. 
By the same. 
Case I.—An aged black mare has been lame for several years 
in the off-fore leg, which bears the marks, without having re¬ 
ceived the benefit, of the firing-irons. She has been taken out 
of the coach for some years, and has since been working on the 
farm; but her lameness has increased so much of late, that she 
could not even continue this work. On examining, I found the 
fetlock joint hot and tender; an exostosis had formed round it, 
and also round and above the hoof. In May last, the mare 
being thrown, I excised about an inch of the outer metacarpal 
nerve, and three-fourths of an inch of the inner pastern nerve. 
I was induced to make this distinction from observing that the 
heat and exostosis were but very slight on the inner part of the 
fetlock joint; and I wished to preserve, if possible, a slight por¬ 
tion of feeling, to guard against accidents. The mare, on rising, 
appeared to walk and trot without lameness, and, as soon as the 
wounds admitted, resumed her work. In five or six weeks after¬ 
wards, having been rather hard worked on the road, I was in¬ 
formed that she was as lame as ever. I found the inner side of 
the fetlock joint hot and painful, though, on the outer side, the 
inflammation was scarcely perceptible. 
I determined to cutoff* all sensation whatever; and, as soon as 
the inflammation was sufficiently reduced by cooling treatment, 
I operated on the inner side above the fetlock. The amendment 
was immediately evinced; the animal walked and trotted free 
from lameness, and soon after went to work, where she now con¬ 
tinues. In August last, the mare was worked post on a rough 
road, and in consequence became lame in the near forefoot; this 
lameness, however, was removed by antiphlogistic treatment in 
a fortnight, and the neurotomized limb stood sound throughout. 
Remarks. —Is not pain frequently a cause , as well as an effect, 
of inflammation ? and does not the operation of neurotomy lessen 
it, by removing the irritation ?—what think you, Messrs. Editors? 
In this case, the lameness appeared to have been occasioned by 
the friction of the sensible parts against the exostosis ; and the 
first operation removed the pain, and prevented, in great mea¬ 
sure, inflammatory symptoms taking place on the outer side of 
the fetlock ; and the excision of the inner metacarpal nerve not 
only cured the lameness, but prevented any inflammation again 
