OPEKATIONS UPON FIBROUS TISSUES. 



325 



"which aids its raovements, which it produces, poiut with certainty 

 to the cause of the lameness. 



The instruments necessary are scissors, a straight and a con- 

 vex bistoury, a dissecting forceps, a curved director, and pei-haps 

 a curved tenotomy knife. 



The animal is cast on the side of the leg to be operated upon, 

 the upper leg carried forward and secured on the upper forearm, 

 and the hair cUpped over the tract of the tendon, which can be 

 readily identified by an oblique groove generally found running 

 on the upper portion of the bony enlargement. An incision 

 about two and a half inches long is made with the convex bis- 

 toury, either j)arallel to the tendon, or slightly obhque, and right 



Fig. 338.— Tarsal Tenotomy. Cunean 

 Tendon Exposed. 



Fig. 339.— Tarsal Tenotomy. Tbe 

 Tendon Raised. 



across its direction. This incision is generally accompanied by a 

 somewhat troublesome capillary hemorrhage, which ought to be 

 controlled before proceeding furthei\ The tendon may then be 

 felt through its bursa, which is raised with the dissecting forceps 

 and opened, when the tendon is readily exposed. The curved 

 director is then inserted under the tendon, which is easily raised 

 from its tract, and by guidiug the tenotome along its groove the 

 section is made by a single stroke. 



Some practitioners complete the operation by amputating a 

 portion of the tendon. This is unnecessary, and complicates the 

 operation by subjecting the parts to the necessity of a repairing 



