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NEUROTOMY. 
By Mr. Edward Hickman, Shrewsbury. 
I HAVE before sent you a statement of a few cases of Neuro¬ 
tomy which I operated upon successfully ; at the same time 
pointing out the utility of the operation, when proper cases are 
selected, and which requires as much or greater judgment than 
even the operation, which is very simple to those who know 
the anatomy of the foot. I have seen it, however, attended with 
serious obstructions from hemorrhage when the tourniquet was 
not applied sufficiently tight; and 1 recollect an eminent veteri¬ 
nary surgeon being very much confused and annoyed by the 
slackness of the pressure, and the great flow of blood occasioned 
by it, when operating before a royal duke ; and in consequence 
of which I very much doubt whether any portion of the nerve 
was at that time excised. 
Since I last wrote to you upon this subject I have had several 
very interesting cases under my care, and which I think are 
worthy of record, and should be satisfactory to the enemies of 
neurotomy, who seem to be rather numerous, either from preju¬ 
dice or a deficiency of knowledge of the functions of these parts 
of the animal. Some will tell you that the operation ought to be 
rejected because it will render the horse unsafe to ride, and that 
the limb is quite insensible, although operated upon below the 
fetlock. To those gentlemen I would say, Go to the Veterinary 
College, and make yourself acquainted with the anatomy of these 
parts.’’ Others will say, it is only fit for post, coach, or draught 
horses; and no horse intended for riding should be subjected to 
it, because he will stumble, and be unsafe to ride after such an 
operation.” In answer to these gentlemen I would say, Facts 
are stubborn things.” 
CASE I. 
There are at this time, in this town, several coach and post horses 
working sound that 1 unnerved two or three years ago. Mr. 
Peter Hilton, an extensive carrier, had a large waggon horse, 
seventeen hands high, which was lame on the near fore leg. He 
had been blistered repeatedly on the back sinews, had a run at grass 
for six weeks, and every other remedy that was deemed advisable 
was tried, but the horse got worse. I was consulted, and I found 
him to be lame in the foot. I advised Mr. Hilton to have him 
unnerved, which, after some time, he agreed to, the horse being 
so lame at the time that it was with much difficulty he walked 
to the casting-bed. x4fter the operation he became quite sound, 
and continued to lead Mr. Hilton’s team for two years. 
