The morning call., 1892-03-23
IN A HORSE HOSPITAL.
How the Operation Of Neur0tOmy
Is Performed.
Feeding q Broken-Jawed Horse by Hand.
The Newspapers Needed to Help in
Fighting the Glanders.

who was passing the veterinary hospital on
Broadway yesterday morning. The implied
invitation was accepted and the reporter
entered the place just as a large, strongly
built sorrel mare was led forward limping
painfully on one front foot. She stood dis
tressfully pointing it forward while the
doctor explained the case.
This mare" he said, has been lame for
a long time. She has what is called navicu-
lar arthritis-that is, inflammation in the
navicuIar joint OF this foot. and as the
trouble is too deeply seated in the hoof TO
be got at, l am going to perform the opera
ton of neurotomy in order to relieve the
pain, which is what causes the lameness.
'-Neurctomy" sounded somewhat formid-
able, and the reporter thought 1t no less so
on learning that ii meant the eXclsien OF
por ton of tie nerve-in this instance of the
metacarpal nerve, on either side of the leg,
Just above the fetloek joint
While the doctor was talking he had
deftly bllndfOlded the mare and led her
close up to the large operating table that
stood in the middle oil the floor. The top OF
the table was turned perprndicuIarly at
right angles TO the framework, and the mare
stood beside it as she might beside a section
Of wall The table was well padded and OF
ample proportions, and securely fastened TO
its surface were three broad stout canvas
bands, strong leather neck-collar and
strong, well-padded footbands of leather,
the latter secured by chains winding on a
revolving bar on the underside OF tue table.
To adjust the bands about neck and body
were the work OF moment. Then the
assistant went behind the table and turn
ing a great crank the top with its occupant
was lowered to horizontal position. Pony
gave great grunt as she felt herself lifted
bodily IRON the floor. but she was securely
fastened, and, alter u m0mentaTy struggle.
apparently abandoned herself to fate and
lag motiOnless while the bands were adjusted
about her feet and tue chains wound taut-
With a few clips OF the scissors the doctor
cleared the hair from little place Oil the
side OF the leg, and, taking a small ScalpeL
made an inciSion in the skin, cutting
through TO the sheath. which envelopea
nerve, vein and artery on that side. The
mare snorted and struggled 10 free herself,
but without avail. Here, what's the mat
ter with you?" her owner shouted in what
he doubtless intended TO be soothing tone.
Pony gave deep gr0an, bur yOuchSafed no
further reply. The doctor worked rapidly
and the animal seemed, on the whole, to
suffer very little pain. There was great
struggle for an instant, when the nerve
being laid bare a hook was Insert ed beneath
il and quick cut With the knife severed it,
but after that an inch OF the nerve was ex-
clsed, the animal seeming to experience no
inconvenience. The wound vas stitched
up, the table lowered. the animal laid on
her other side and the same process re-
peated on the nerve on the inner side of the
leg In less than half an hour, when the
mare was finally released from durance. the
canvas t.Iken from over her eyes. and she
walked across the floor with no sign of
lameness. The leg was then bandaeed and.
apparently forgetting her woeful expert
ence, the patient was soon eating con-
tentedly. ~ GU could take her out and trot
her," the doctor saId, land she would show
no signs Of lameness."
While the animal lay on tna table a we'll
known hOrSemau entered and looked al her
feet. There" he said, lis a good example
of how not 10 take care OF a horses feet"
The hoOfs were dry and hard, the frogs
Hacked and worn smooth where the horse
tired on them. Stones, bits Of coal, straw, mud
aud manure were packed and crowded into
the hoofs, so that the structure could hardly
be distinguished. The shoes had been on
too long, and the hoOfs had grown nearly
quarter Of an inch outside of them all
around.
a more perfect picture of neglect would
be hard to find. That is fair sample of
how the average horses feet are treated,
said the horseman. Improper shOeing to
begin with, neglect finishes the wOrk-dnd
then the driver wonders Why the horse goes
lame. Half the troubles of horses are due
TO lack of proper care, and the other half
might readily be attributed to ea!elesSness
and the f0ollshHess OF the owDars."
llUIll the case III eNlutIICe, IneTe
was good deal of truth in the observa ton
just thea an attendant summoned the
reporter to come and see a horse led with a
spoon
Sure enough, in darkened box stall,
lying on a soft BED OF straw. was hand
some chestnut colt, with q piece broken
square out of his lower jaw. lie is grand
soE OF the great Director, and his owner on
Saturday last valued him at $780, but
while he will be none the less speedy he Will
be far less handsome If the broken piece
which the doctor has wired securely in
comfortable. out frightened visibly when
the head nurse" entered with box of
chopped hay and a basin OF soft mash.
which he proceeded to feed to the patient
by the handfui. placing each morsel we'll
back In the expectant mouth, where the
molars were still intact and doing effective
work. The handsome fellow being young
the doctor has hopes Of repairing the frac-
ture, though as In human being, frac-
ture OF the inferior msxillary is an unprom-
islng thing TO deal with.
Il am glad TO see" said DIR. Pierce. as the
Morning Caller was leaving, that your
paper Is lining warning voice in regard to
tie danger OF CHAMBERS getting hold in this
State The yeterinaries are making a strong
fight against the disease. and we need all
the help the press can give us. came here
a month or two ago from Ventura County,
where was Stock Inspector for some time,
In some parts of Ventura and Santa Bar
bara counties found The disease aarmingIy
prevalent and stock-own very apathetic
regarding the danger. IL seems as If farmers
would rather lose every horse they own by
the CHAMBERS than TO Kill a single animal 10
prevent the disease spreading. You see
CHAMBERS is new thing in this State, and
people do not realize the awful danger that
would attend its spread among us. We will
prevent its spreading. though, and altogether
eradicate it if Che newspapers will help
along the battle"