The generality of operators remove about an inch of the main trunk before the nerve divides, or above the pastern; and the result certainly confirms the soundness of such a practice.
The nerve of the frog is, however, frequently excised. The objection to this is the junction of a filament of the anterior branch with the nerve below the excision. That union should deprive the operation of all effect; but, notwithstanding, the division is sometimes beneficial. The operation is, however, never certain; and to that circumstance the proprietor must make up his mind when he sanctions its performance.
THE COURSE OF THE
NERVE EXPOSED.
a. Denotes the nerve of the frog.
Always examine minutely any horse submitted to you for neurotomy. Do this to discover if the operation has been previously performed—the object being that you may thereby be prepared for some trouble in mastering the retentive consciousness of the animal; likewise, that by such inquiries you may decide upon the benefit likely to result from the operation; also, that you may be warned of a bloody and tedious job. The leg which has previously been subjected to neurotomy becomes doubly vascular. We know of no reason to account for this phenomenon, excepting it may denote the cost at which nature repairs her higher order of structures.
A HORIZONTAL INCISION, WITH THE HAIR
CLIPPED ABOVE THE OPENING.
A PERPENDICULAR INCISION, WITH THE HAIR CUT OFF
ABOVE AND ON THE SIDES OF THE WOUND.