5 22 
S. J. J. HARGER. 
and hence I need not go into the didactic details of the routine 
surgical stages. I have used cocaine, for the last four years, 
instead of casting the horse. A drachm of a 4 % solution in dis¬ 
tilled water is injected subcutaneously above the fetlock over 
the course of the plantar nerve. In only two instances was it 
necessary to throw the patient. In a double neurectomy one 
foot is nerved before injecting the other, to avoid the physio¬ 
logical effects of the drug from its absorption, which sometimes 
makes the horse uneasy and complicates the operation. In my 
experience, I have never seen the sloughing effects of cocaine, 
which some claim to have experienced. In this manner, the 
foot can be extended, placed upon a box or a stool and held by 
an assistant, and the nerve removed without any laborious 
efforts. In fact, some horses never move, even while severing 
the nerve. 
The only instruments necessary are a pair of curved scissors, 
two small dissecting forceps, a bistoury, a thin probe with a 
sharp but not cutting extremity, a neurotome and needle and 
thread or silver wire. I never use a tourniquet or compression 
of any kind to arrest the haemorrhage, which is insignificant 
when the incision is made carefully and in the proper place ; on 
the outside of the foot the operation is sometimes absolutely 
bloodless. I do not approve of the use of Dechamp's needle 
nor of securing the nerve with a thread. This prolongs the 
operation and may cause the horse to struggle. I simply pass 
the probe under the nerve-trunk after dissection with the for¬ 
ceps and then make the section. The nerve should be well 
isolated at the upper angle of the incision, and strong downward 
traction made before cutting it, in order that it does not pro¬ 
trude into the wound and its extremity is not involved in the 
cicatrix. I always use a cutaneous suture. In this manner a 
nerve may be removed in a fraction of a minute. As long a por¬ 
tion of the nerve as possible should be removed. 
The only structure that can be mistaken for the nerve and 
only in the low operation, and even this is not excusable, is the 
ligamentous cord extending from the plantar cushion to the 
