THE HORSE’S FOOT. 
243 
is done with the single sage knife, held firmly in the hand, either 
the left or the right, always, however, that corresponding to the 
side of the heel to be operated upon. Taking a point of rest 
with the flat of the thumb upon the plantar surface of the foot, 
the instrument is pushed between the skin and the cartilage, and 
the sharp edge turned backwards, with a firm rotary motion, 
downwards and forwards. The detached portion of cartilage is 
than seized with a pair of bull-dog forceps, and brought out¬ 
wards, and the sage knife is brought forwards, downwards and 
outwards, from under the cartilage. It is a good plan, in order 
to make more room for working, to raise the skin and coronary 
band with a blunt tenaculum. The operation should always be 
commenced at the posterior part, in order to avoid the articular 
synovial capsules, which might be opened if the removal of the 
cartilage were begun forward. As the operator reaches the 
anterior part of the cartilage, which is situated almost over this 
capsule, it is prudent to hold the foot in excessive extension and 
thus avoid injury to the capsule. This is an important point to 
consider in the operation. The sharp instrument being carefully 
handled, every portion of the cartilage is taken off, either at 
once or by layers successively, until the whole is removed. It is 
thus accomplished in three or four pieces. In some instances the 
anterior portion is cut off by a longitudinal incision, made with 
a straight bistoury, following the direction of the posterior face 
of the coronet; the object, in this case, being simply to render 
the operation easier. The cartilage is thus removed, great care 
being taken to avoid opening the capsular articular bursas. It is 
essentially necessary to remove the whole of the diseased tissues, 
in order to bring the parts into the condition of a simple wound. 
Still there need be no alarm if some small portions remain, more 
fibrous than cartilaginous, which, deep as they are, may protect 
the synovial capsules or the ligament; and moreover, they often 
slough off by themselves, with the abundant suppuration which 
■follows. 
To operate with the greater facility, it is well to have two 
forms of sage knife, one right and one left-handed, and some of 
extra strength, with which to remove the larger particles of 
