ON THE OPERATION OF NEUROTOMY, 
4*29 
but if a portion be excised, we cannot determine the exact time 
of restoration. It would not suit my present purpose to inquire 
whether the original tissues of the nerve are restored : it is suffi¬ 
cient to know that its functions are performed as well as before its 
division. Having thus, as slightly as may be, glanced at the opera¬ 
tion of Neurotomy, I will consider its application to and effects 
upon certain diseases. Suppose, an animal lasne from ossified 
cartilages, ringbone, or any chronic affection of the foot, attended 
with alteration of structure ; all methods have failed to relieve the 
part affected, and at last Neurotomy is resorted to : the sense of 
pain being removed, the animal no longer flinches when he puts 
his foot upon the ground ; and probably the lameness disappears. 
But Neurotomy cannot work miracles : it cannot re-convert the 
ossified cartilage to its original structure, nor restore permanently 
altered parts to their pristine condition, consequently the disease 
still remains; but as all sensation is removed, it causes no pain, 
therefore no lameness is evinced; yet such a horse cannot be 
considered sound, because the lameness will return with sensa¬ 
tion ; and even if sensation should never return, the horse is un¬ 
sound ; for, independent of the original disease, there is still some 
unpleasantness, and perhaps unsafeness, in his action; and the 
foot which is void of sensation is more liable to injury than the 
foot possessed of sensation ; for the animal may travel after a 
piece of glass or a nail has penetrated his hoof, without being 
conscious of it, until irreparable mischief is produced. 
But there are other diseases in which this operation is resorted 
to with great benefit. Contraction, canker, tetanus originating 
in some wound of the foot, &c. These are diseases which can be 
removed, the structure and functions of the parts can be perfectly 
restored, and we call in the aid of Neurotomy, not exactly to sub¬ 
vert the effects of the disease, but as a collateral means of cure; 
and when that cure is effected, and sensation renewed, I cannot, 
see why the horse should still be pronounced unsound. That in 
the great majority of cases where Neurotomy is performed, the 
animal is afterwards permanently unsound, I perfectly agree; but 
is it the operation which constitutes the unsoundness ? No; it is 
the disease—the permanently altered structure which previously 
existed, and which Neurotomy was never intended or expected to 
remove : it is this which produces the unsound ness; and I cer¬ 
tainly cannot imagine how it is that a horse upon which this ope-- 
ration has been performed, under certain circumstances, must 
ever afterwards be deemed unsound. It appears to me that the 
question of soundness or unsoundness, as connected with Neuro¬ 
tomy, depends entirely upon the disease for which the practice is 
adopted : if that disease is of a chronic nature, attended with 
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