132 
EXTRACTS FROiM MY CASE-BOOK. 
unyielding, and the sole thick to a morbid degree. The present 
symptoms are, that she is continually pointing one foot or the 
other when at rest; the lameness diminishes after a little exer¬ 
cise, but returns after rest; and she shews great disinclination to 
trot. The case is clearly confirmed navicular lameness. When 
th-^ lameness first appeared, various methods of shoeing and 
paring the feet were tried; and I believe the animal was placed 
under the care of different practitioners. In the infirmary of one, 
her shoulders were extensively blistered, after the fashion of those 
days when veterinary science was hid in worse than Cimmerian 
darkness; and she was finally turned out upon a common, and 
although her value estimated at thirty shillings, when sound, 
she was worth quite as many pounds. 
The disease being evidently confirmed, I advise neurotomy, 
and directed her to be placed under preparative treatment for 
that operation. 
Oct. 8.—To-day I excised an inch of the metacarpal nerves 
on both sides from both legs. The patient got up free from all 
appearance of lameness; and I can never forget the astonished 
countenance of the groom, when he witnessed the change. He 
could not believe his eves. The oortions of nerve he took home, 
and said he would keep them for ever. 
—The legs have undergone the regular process conse¬ 
quent upon the operation. The wounds are healed, and the 
mare seems as efficient as ever; she is therefore put to work at 
light jobs, being just three weeks after undergoing the operation. 
Dec. 4:th .—The groom tells me he is afraid the off hoof is 
coming off. On examining it, I find a fistulous wound on the 
inner coronet, into which I can introduce my finger, discharging 
a somewhat foetid matter, evidently caused originally by the 
calkin of the other shoe. It appears that, instead of continuing 
the mare at light and easy work, she has been for the last month 
used as shaft-horse in carting sand from a sand-hole, for filling 
up drains ; about the roughest and most shaky work a horse can 
be put to. Even in her sound state she was not calculated for 
this work, being a light, active animal; and, in her present 
state, the consequence has been, that she has inflicted this wound 
on the opposite foot; but, shewing no lameness, it has not been 
noticed so soon as it otherwise would have been. 
A saturated solution of sulphate of zinc, to be daily used for 
dressing the fistula. 
V^th .—Almost all trace of the wound has disappeared. The 
fistula has quite healed, and good horn is secreted as usual. 
1835. Jau. 2^(1 ,—The mare has been at regular work until 
this time. 
