Professor Hobday’s description of the operation is as follows: 

’A bold incision is made through the skin and aponcurotic portion of the pectoralis transversus and panniculus muscles, about 1 to 3 inches (depending on the size of the horse) below the internal condyle of the humerus, and immediately behind the ridge formed by the radius.  This latter, and the nerve which can be felt passing over the elbow-joint, form the chief landmarks.  The haemorrhage which ensues is principally venous, and is easily controlled by the artery forceps.  In some cases I have found it of advantage to put on a tourniquet below the seat of operation, but this is not always advisable, as it distends the radial artery.  We now have exposed to view the glistening white fascia of the arm, which must be incised cautiously for about an inch.  This will reveal the median nerve itself situated upon the red fibres of the flexor metacarpi internus muscle.  If not fortunate enough to have cut immediately over the nerve, it can be readily felt with the finger between the belly of the flexor muscle and the radius.’[A]

[Footnote A:  Journal of Comparative Pathology and Therapeutics, vol. ix., p. 181.]

The nerve exposed, the remainder of the operation is exactly as that described in removing the portion of the nerve in the plantar operation.  The wound is sutured and suitably dressed, and a fair amount of exercise afterwards allowed the patient.

F. LENGTH OF REST AFTER NEURECTOMY.

This is placed by the majority of surgeons at about three weeks to a month.  Within that period no excessive exertion should be undergone by the patient.  A certain amount of quiet exercise, however, is beneficial, facilitating the healing of the wounds, and accustoming the animal to the altered condition of his limb.

G. SEQUELAE OF NEURECTOMY.

These we shall relate collectively, making no distinction between those following excision of the plantar nerve and those succeeding section of the median.  It must be remembered by the surgeon, however, that the unfortunate sequelae we are now about to describe are likely to be far more grave when following section of the larger nerve.

Liability of Pricked Foot going undetected.—­On account of the warning they convey to the surgeon, first place among the sequelae of neurectomy must be given to accidents following loss of sensation.  Take, for example, punctured foot.  In any case, in the sense of being unforeseen, it is accidental.  In the neurectomized foot it becomes doubly accidental, in that not only is it unforeseen, but that it is for some time indiscoverable.  With the foot deprived of sensation, a nail may be picked up, or a prick sustained at the forge, and no intimation given to the attendant until pus has underrun the horn, and broken out at the coronet.  What follows, then, is that the hoof as a whole, or the greater part of it, sloughs off.