Percival, in his works on lameness, has some very sage remarks to make by way of a preliminary, and we cannot do better than quote them here.  He says: 

’To command success in neurectomy three considerations demand attention: 

’1.  The subject must be fit and proper; in particular, the disease for which neurectomy is performed should be suitable in kind, seat, stage, etc.

’2.  The operation must be skilfully and effectually performed.

’3.  The use that is made of the patient afterwards should not exceed what his altered condition appears to have fitted him for.

’The veterinarian who is guided by considerations such as those will find that he has restored to work horses who would otherwise have been utterly useless.  A plain and safe argument wherewith to meet the objections to neurectomy is simply to ask the question what the animal is worth, or to what useful purpose he can be put, that happens to be the subject of such an operation.

’If the horse can be shown to be still serviceable and valuable, then he is not a legitimate subject for the operation.  The rule of procedure I have laid down is to operate on no other but the incurably lame horse; and whenever this has been attended to, not only has success been the more brilliant, but indemnification from blame or reproach has been assured.’

Preparation of the Subject.—­But little in the way of medicinal preparation is necessary.  When the animal is a gross, heavy feeder, and carries a more than ordinary amount of cupboard, all that is needed is to withhold his usual allowance of food for some time prior to the operation, simply to avoid risk of rupture when casting.  If considered advisable, a dose of physic may also be administered.

To the seat of operation, however, careful attention should be given.  On the day previous to the operation the hair should be closely removed with the clipping machines, and the skin thoroughly cleansed with warm water and soap.  After this, a bandage soaked in a 4 per cent, watery solution of carbolic acid should be wrapped lightly round the limb, and allowed to remain in position until the animal is cast and ready for the operation the following morning.  On removing the bandage prior to operating, the part should again be bathed with a cold 5 per cent. solution of carbolic acid and swabbed dry.  Attention to these details will serve to leave the wound in that favourable condition in which it heals nicely, and with the minimum amount of trouble.

Preliminary Steps.—­By some practitioners the operation is performed with the animal standing, local anaesthesia having been first obtained by the use of cocaine, or an ethyl chloride spray.  There is no gainsaying the fact, however, that the operation of neurectomy is a painful one, and that, with most operators, success will be more fully guaranteed with the animal cast and the limb held in a suitable position by an assistant.