53« 
S. J. J. HARGER. 
In 71 % the operation may be said to have been successful. 
Two developed neuroma. No. 8 lost the foot, the result of 
laminitis one year after the operation ; degeneration of foot in 
o o g/ 
/o- 
Digital operation : 
6 (at present). 
2 “ . 
2 “ . 
3 (neuroma) 
.3 years (two died). 
, 2 | “ 
H “ 
2 months. 
81 % of these operations were satisfactory. 
From the above records, what conclusions can be drawn ? 
Do they warrant us to recommend the operation to our client or 
shall we tell him, in the ordinary paraphrase, “ sell your horse ? ” 
The reply, in my opinion, should be the affirmative, always, 
however, keeping in mind the indications and contra-indications. 
My results have perhaps been a little more satisfactory than 
those of most others, due probably to the manner of selecting 
the cases. The surgeon practices very few operations of which 
60 to 80 are satisfactory to him and to his client, and especially, 
with so little expense and time required until the animal is able 
to resume his work, and considering that without it the animal 
is generally worthless. Make allowance here for incorrect diag¬ 
nosis and unskillfulness in operating, and the prognosis will be 
still more favorable. 
In choosing between the plantar and the digital operations, 
one must be guided entirely by the existing conditions, that is, 
the distribution of the nerves filaments to the diseased parts. 
The former removes the lameness more effectually, which is not 
so liable to recur ; but the possibility of interference with the 
gait and degeneration of the foot are greater. In the latter, I 
see absolutely no danger, excepting a more frequent recurrence 
of the lameness and at times incomplete removal of the pain. 
Whenever the local conditions warrant it, I recommend the low 
operation in preference to the high. 
