RINGBONE TREATED BY NEUROTOMY. 
343 
We believe, therefore, that the second step in the germ-theory 
is taken, the second story of the structure finished; and we place 
the results before the scientific world with the fullest confidence 
that they will be confirmed and accepted. 
* It will be noticed that many of the investigations appear on 
their face to be rather of a chemical or pathological nature than 
microscopical, and as such would be out of place in this Journal. 
I beg leave to remind the reader, however, that no one but a. mi- 
croscopist can succeed in such researches—the microscope is nec¬ 
essary at every step, and it has been a part of my purpose to 
show that the microscopist who undertakes to solve these difficult 
questions must be prepared to use other apparatus in connection 
with his instrument.* 
FOUR CASES OF RINGBONE, TREATED BY NEUROTOMY. 
By R. Harrison, D.V.S. 
In the April number of the Review the operation of neurot¬ 
omy was recommended as a very favorable method of treating 
ringbone by M. Nocart of Alfort. Since this report I have oper¬ 
ated on four cases, and it may be of interest to report them, as 
the result in every case was not favorable. 
Case No. 1.—Bay mare, 16 hands high, 7 years old, had been 
lying idle for seven months, on account of extreme lameness; 
had been fired and blistered previously with beneficial result for 
a time. When seen, she was so lame as not to be able to put the 
foot to the ground. The near hind foot was the one affected, the 
growth extending in front and to the sides, more on the inside 
than out, giving rise to anchylosis of the coffin joint as well as of 
the second phalanx. 
On the 5th of July she was operated on, and immediately fol¬ 
lowing it, she seemed lamer than before, which was considered to 
be due to her severe struggles while being cut and during the 
operation. For several days following she improved steadily, and 
would even trot quite nicely. A shoe with high heel calkins and 
*My investigations have been published in the Reports of the Department 
of Agriculture. 
