nerve trunk also had become reunited, and presented a thickened portion at the point of junction, but not so large as that of the outer side, and situated in the lower half of the tendon, about 2 inches higher than that on the external nerve.  This nerve trunk was atrophied below the thickening, and had undergone gelatinous degeneration.  Judging from the scars on the skin, this side had evidently been unnerved a week or ten days previously to that on the outer side.  The band stretching across the back of the perforatus, between the external and internal nerves, appeared on the inside to have become firmly fixed into the tendon.

’On removing the hoof, under the sole there appeared a large quantity of very foetid pus; the laminae were very much inflamed in patches.  There was an enormous thickening of connective tissues in the heel.  On cutting longitudinally through the perforatus tendon, there was exposed a large blood-coloured mass, of a gelatinous appearance, situated on the perforatus tendon, the latter being very much thickened, and growing to the navicular bone.  The underneath surface of the superior suspensory ligament was much thickened, and firmly adherent to the bone; at the posterior surface of the metacarpus there was a quantity of gelatinous substance.  The anterior ligament of the fetlock-joint was thickened; the navicular bone was entire, but showed lesions of navicular disease, being ulcerated.  Section through the bone did not reveal anything further.  It may be here remarked that the ulcerations were on either side of the central ridge, and not at all on the ridge itself.

’Microscopic examination of the tissue joining the two ends of the nerve together revealed a few nerve fibres; the general appearance was that of granulation tissue, containing capillary vessels, which were fairly plentiful, and comparatively large in size.’[A]

[Footnote A:  Veterinary Record, vol. iv., p. 386 (Hobday)]

Chronic Oedema of the Leg.—­In some cases there is a distinct swelling of the leg some time after the operation.  This exposes the limb to the infliction of sores from striking with the opposite foot, with, of course, the difficulty in healing we have just described.

Persistent Pruritus.—­This annoying sequel occurs in the neurectomized limb, with or without gelatinous degeneration, and appears to be without a remedy.  The itching in some cases is so intense as to lead the animal to constantly gnaw at the top of the foot.  As one observer has remarked, the animal may begin literally biting pieces out of his limb.  The result of the irritation and gnawing is fatal.  Great sloughing of the parts takes place, and the animal has eventually to be slaughtered.